McGuireWoods Consulting senior advisor Robert Wood represented the firm’s core tenant of giving back to the community when he stepped up to volunteer with Team Rubicon to aid in disaster relief efforts following the recent flooding in Texas.
The Fourth of July flooding devastated the Texas Hill Country on the Guadalupe River, resulting in at least 136 deaths, 101 missing and countless homes destroyed.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the state deployed more than 20 state agencies in response to the disaster. Additionally, several disaster relief organizations and over 12,300 volunteers joined the efforts, including Wood with Team Rubicon.
Wood is a born and raised Texan and has lived there for much of his life. He recalls taking family vacations in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.
“I remember spending hours sliding down the dam in Ingram as a child, and many camping trips in Kerrville over the years,” Wood said. “It impacted us all. For two days, I watched nonstop news reports. I went through photos of my family vacations in Hunt. I hurt and I prayed. I needed to do something.”
Wood spent a week in San Angelo, Texas, volunteering with Team Rubicon, an international, veteran-led organization focused on disaster response. The work involved assessing the damage and helping homeowners move wet sheetrock, insulation and flooring from their homes.
“It was hot, hard work, but it was what I needed,” Wood said. “Helping fellow Texans helped heal the raw place in my heart.”
McGuireWoods Consulting Texas state relations director and senior vice president Holly Deshields says that Wood’s compassion and willingness to lend a hand are valuable assets to the Texas team and the firm as a whole.
“Robert has a servant’s heart,” Deshields said. “His genuine desire to help others starts by raising his hand first to volunteer and then utilizing his skills to serve the common good and those in need. His humility and dedication are inspiring to everyone he meets.”
