SILVER SPRING, Md. (WUSA9) -- Representatives with Radio One announced in a press release on Tuesday that longtime WOL-1450 AM radio personality and decorated war hero Raymond Woods, also known as the More Better Man, died on Veterans Day at Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was 74.
Raymond Woods was born in Spartanburg, SC in 1940 and grew up in Washington, D.C., say representatives. He graduated from McKinley Tech High School.
Woods enlisted in the U.S. Marines and served in An Hoa, Vietnam. "He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions in combat in May 1969. He also received numerous citations including six Presidential Unit Citations, One Matrious Combat Promotion while participating in six operations against insurgents of communist Viet Cong. It was during his service in Vietnam that his fellow Marines gave him the name of The More Better Man. Returning to civilian life he took a position at the U.S. Government Printing Office," according to Radio One.
His love for rhythm and blues music led him to seek a job at WOL and he went on the air in September 1982. He started with just two hours per week but listener response to him and his music led to more airtime. In 1986 The More Better Man moved to midday, where he remained for six years.
The More Better Man also sponsored dances, parties and shows that featured the music of the fifties and sixties. He made sure to recognize and honor Vietnam veterans and for 10 or more years organized a veteran's march from the WOL studio to the Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day.
The More Better Man was noted for his contributions to music and radio in a profile in the July 1995 issue of Discoveries, a national magazine for record collectors. Baltimore got its first taste of The More Better Man in 1993 when WOL began simulating his show on WOLB.