Wall of Fame Class of 2011
Mr. Neal Wood ‘44 spent nearly 40 years as an engineer for the Turnpike Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation before retiring as the turnpike commission’s chief bridge engineer in 1991. He worked on several high-profile projects during his career, from the Interstate Highway System to the completion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, playing an instrumental role in building highway systems in Pennsylvania. Mr. Wood is responsible for developing one of the most effective highway safety devices, the SNAP system. SNAP (Sonic Nap Alert Pattern) is the pattern of rumble strips grooved into the shoulders of highways to alert drivers when they stray from the road. After his initial idea, he did some research with the state police and learned that many car accidents were caused by drivers who drifted off the road after falling asleep at the wheel or becoming distracted and not paying attention to the road. Mr. Wood also owns and operates the Neal Wood Skate Shop from his home. For nearly 30 years, he has helped customers of all ages find or repair ice skates. The shop also houses one of the largest collections of skating memorabilia, including autographed photos, figurines, magazines, and vintage skates. Since he took up skating in the 1940s, he has held many skate coaching and teaching positions.
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