Howard Payne University Athletics

Jess “Dutch” Woodward was one of two standout brothers from Comanche to excel in sports at Howard Payne. Like his older brother, Jess Woodward served in World War I, as a private in the U.S. Army. After his service, Woodward enrolled at Texas Conference champion Yellow Jackets in 1921. He was selected All-Texas Conference that season. He also played shortstop on the baseball team. After graduating in 1922, Woodward coached and taught in Brownwood for eight years before moving to Lohn in McCulloch County. He served as superintendent of Lohn schools and later on the Lohn School Board. He also was a rancher in McCulloch County. He died in 1981 and was inducted posthumously along with his brother to become the first pair of brothers in the HPU Athletics Hall of Fame.