Woody, retired Salt Lake biz editor

Robert Woody, the business editor of the Salt Lake Tribune from 1965 to 1990, died Wednesday at the age of 84, according to a story from the paper.

Paul Rolly writes, “‘Bob was famous in the newsroom for calling out, ‘Take a number,’ whenever someone shouted that he was wanted on the phone,’ said Mike Korologos, former assistant to The Tribune ‘s executive editor. ‘He was always on the phone getting a story. So he always needed to call the person back.’

“Woody’s ‘take a number’ mantra became famous in the 1970s when the receptionist told him the Shah of Iran was on the phone. Woody had called Tehran earlier in the day to chase down a rumor the Shah was going to purchase the Snowbird ski resort. The Shah’s secretary was calling him back. He ended up taking that call.

“‘He loved reporting and he was always interested in people,’ said former Tribune Editor Will Fehr. ‘That combination made him an excellent journalist.’

“When Woody took over the business page in 1965, the focus was on mining and minerals. Woody reported on those areas, said Korologos, but he expanded the coverage to small businesses and the interesting people who ran those enterprises.”

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