Wayne Joris Hood was born on July 23, 1913, in Waupun, Wisconsin, the son of Ben and Ruth Kastein, but he was later adopted and reared by Frank G. Hood. He received his Ph.B. from the University of Wisconsin in 1934 and his LL.B. from the same institution three years later. After Admission to the Wisconsin Bar, Hood practiced law in Waupun and Ripon, Wisconsin until 1939. In that year Hood married Helen Trane and began employment at the Trane Company, a manufacturer of heating and air conditioning equipment in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
During World War II Hood served as a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves. After the war he returned to the Trane Co., where he was made executive vice-president in 1947. By 1955 he was the company's treasurer and a member of the board of directors of Trane Co., Canada Ltd.
In addition to his business career, Hood was a leader in the Republican Party in Wisconsin. He was chairman of the Third Congressional District Republican organization from 1946 to 1950. From February, 1950, to July, 1953, he served two terms as state chairman. In this position, he also served on the Republican National Committee and as its executive director from 1952 to 1953. A staunch conservative, Hood supported Robert A. Taft in the presidential race in 1952, but after Taft's defeat in the Republican National Convention, Hood supported Eisenhower and was elected executive director of the Republican National Committee and the Eisenhower presidential campaign.
Hood left his position on the national committee when he resigned as state chairman in July of 1953. Nevertheless, he continued to be active in GOP politics. In 1956 he was personal campaign manager for Glenn M. Wise, the Republican candidate for Secretary of State. He also headed the Glenn Davis senatorial campaign in 1956, and he served as delegate-at-large to the 1956 National Convention. In September, 1963, Hood became Wisconsin chairman for the Draft Goldwater for President Committee. In March, 1964, he was appointed director of Region III in the Goldwater for President organization, and after the national convention he became Goldwater's national director of campaign organization. As a result, he was appointed national director of field organization by the Republican National Committee, and he continued to work in this capacity until Goldwater's defeat. Because of his prior experience in field organization Hood was appointed director of Region V of the Nixon for President Committee in April, 1968.
In addition to his political activities, Hood served on various state governmental committees during the 1960's including the Legislative Reapportionment Committee (1962) and the Wisconsin Committee on Improved Expenditure Management (1965-1966). He was also designated as first chairman of the Governor's Outdoor Recreation Act Program Advisory Committee (1966-1967). He was also a member of several non-governmental committees including the Wisconsin Industrial Growth Organization (1961) and the “Yes” for Forestry Committee (1968).
