Wayne Woods: A force of nature for The Natural State

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When Wayne Woods walked into a room, you knew it. His booming voice, commanding presence and undeniable passion for what he did were on full display every day at CJRW. Subtlety wasn’t in his vocabulary. Instead, his raw energy — fused with a big, endearing personality — propelled him and our agency to accomplish remarkable things in the tourism industry.

Whether he greeted you with a hug, a handshake or even a candid remark about your time management skills if you happened to wander in a bit late, you always knew exactly where you stood with Wayne. His mission was clear: to promote tourism in Arkansas with unwavering dedication. And if you didn’t share that passion, well, you probably needed to go do something else.

Wayne challenged us daily. He also championed us. He pushed us to work harder, think bolder and strive for excellence. And through it all, he always had our backs.

Telling stories, Creating change 

Beyond the walls of CJRW, Wayne was a force of nature — doing whatever it took to help our clients, our agency and our state. Alongside his older brother, Shelby, he traveled relentlessly across Arkansas, sometimes logging 75,000 miles a year in the early days. From coon suppers to chamber of commerce events, he seized every opportunity to connect with the people. He didn’t just want to meet you — he wanted to know you. And if you were in tourism or hospitality, he wanted to tell your story.

For more than five decades, Wayne and so many others at CJRW worked tirelessly to shape Arkansas’ tourism industry. The miles he traveled, the relationships he built and the stories he told laid the foundation for an industry that today generates $10 billion in revenue, welcomes 50 million visitors a year and employs thousands of Arkansans.

Telling stories, Creating change 

A lasting impact

Wayne retired from CJRW nearly a decade ago, but his impact endures. His belief was simple: if you work hard, the rewards will follow. And nobody worked harder than Wayne Woods. The rewards? A thriving tourism industry, a stronger Arkansas and a legacy that will be felt for generations.

To Wayne; his wife, Linda; and his son, Kyzer — we honor you.

With all our love, gratitude and respect.

— Your family at CJRW

A lasting impact

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