John H. Wood, Jr.
John Howland Wood, Jr. (
March 31,
1916 -
May 29,
1979) served as
U.S. District Judge before being killed by
Texas assassin Charles Harrelson outside Wood's home in
San Antonio, Texas on
May 29,
1979.
Wood was born to a prominent Texas family in
Rockport, Texas and earned his
L.L.B. from the
University of Texas in
1938. Before and after serving in the Navy during
WW II he was a lawyer in
San Antonio. He was appointed as a federal judge in 1970 and served until his death.
Wood was well known for his heavy sentencing of
drug traffickers . Wood would always pass the maximum penalty allowed, earning him the nickname "Maximum John". The
murder contract had been placed by Texas drug czar
Jamiel Chagra a.k.a Jimmy Chagra, who was awaiting trial before the judge. This was the first assassination of a U.S. federal judge in the
20th century.
John H. Wood Middle School, in
San Antonio,
Texas is named in his honor. The Federal Court House in
San Antonio is also named for Wood.
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Texas Hitman Charles Harrelson.
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