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NAHB Director Jim Woodyard Dies in Plane Crash

Jim Woodyard, a prominent home builder from Sun Valley, ID, and an active and influential member of NAHB, died on Nov. 19 when the single-engine aircraft he was piloting crashed in the Idaho back country. His body was recovered from the crash site on Sunday following a four-day search. He was 61 years old.

“Jim was a rising star in the NAHB family,” said NAHB Vice President and Treasurer David Wilson. “He had a quick and insightful mind and was deeply committed to building a stronger and more productive industry and association. He was a good and loyal friend and business partner to me personally and he was admired by other NAHB colleagues who had the opportunity to get to know and work with him over the years. Jim will be dearly missed.”

Woodyard owned and operated Woodyard Enterprises, Inc., which was based in Ketchum, ID, and specialized in single-family and light commercial construction.

Elected as an NAHB director in 1996, Woodyard served on numerous NAHB committees during the past decade, including the Convention, Resolutions and Single-Family Small Volume Committees. He was also a member of Home Builders Institute (HBI) Board of Trustees.

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“Jim was perhaps best known for his work in building one of the largest and most effective political action committees in the country,” Wilson added.

Woodyard was the BUILD-PAC trustee for the state of Idaho and chairman of the Capitol Club, and he was on the leadership ladder to become chairman of BUILD-PAC in 2005.

NAHB has established a special fund in Jim Woodyard’s memory.

At the request of his family, monies collected will be used first to help the city of Sun Valley defray the significant costs involved in the four-day search and rescue effort.

Any additional funds will go to the Hailey Idaho Workforce Development Program, one of the many job training centers operated by HBI.

Those wishing to make contributions should send their donations to: The NAHB Woodyard Memorial Fund, c/o National Association of Home Builders, 1201 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005-2800, Attention: Joseph Barney.
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