Gerald Woodahl
Gerald (or Gerry) Woodahl grew up in Helena, MT where he spent the majority of his childhood
After graduating high school in 1963, Woodahl pursued an accounting degree from Montana State University—although he originally went to school for an engineering degree. Afterwards, Woodahl went into the service for 9 months in Vietnam. After Vietnam, he came to the University of Montana to get his MBA and CPA in Business. Woodahl worked in private accounting for a car dealership, and in 1985, he purchased Hertz Rental Car dealership. The real involvement in sports began when Mr. Woodahl started hiring athletes to work at his business, and he has been involved with UM Sports since the ‘70s. Woodahl holds seasons tickets for both football and basketball games, and spends his winters in Arizona and attends Griz Games there, when he visits. While not big into tailgating, Mr. Woodahl has frequented sports bars both in Montana and Arizona with friends and used to do “dinner bets.” Since Mr. Woodahl’s sports enthusiasm has spanned over different generations, it is his belief that fan and community interaction were more natural and positive in the past than now. Mr. Woodahl and his wife flew out to the Maui Invitational Game: Hawaii Vs. The University of Montana in 2001, a game that was played two days before 9/11 happened. Mr. Woodahl remembers this game well because there were quite a few UM fans whose flights had been grounded.
After graduating high school in 1963, Woodahl pursued an accounting degree from Montana State University—although he originally went to school for an engineering degree. Afterwards, Woodahl went into the service for 9 months in Vietnam. After Vietnam, he came to the University of Montana to get his MBA and CPA in Business. Woodahl worked in private accounting for a car dealership, and in 1985, he purchased Hertz Rental Car dealership. The real involvement in sports began when Mr. Woodahl started hiring athletes to work at his business, and he has been involved with UM Sports since the ‘70s. Woodahl holds seasons tickets for both football and basketball games, and spends his winters in Arizona and attends Griz Games there, when he visits. While not big into tailgating, Mr. Woodahl has frequented sports bars both in Montana and Arizona with friends and used to do “dinner bets.” Since Mr. Woodahl’s sports enthusiasm has spanned over different generations, it is his belief that fan and community interaction were more natural and positive in the past than now. Mr. Woodahl and his wife flew out to the Maui Invitational Game: Hawaii Vs. The University of Montana in 2001, a game that was played two days before 9/11 happened. Mr. Woodahl remembers this game well because there were quite a few UM fans whose flights had been grounded.
