Doctor Woodson Ramsey Jr. was born in Sydnorsville, Virginia. He attended and graduated from Roanoke College with the class of 1928 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
Ramsey spent his entire business career was spent with Exxon Corporation. He held one of the highest corporate positions held by a Roanoke College alumnus. He retired in 1963 as a director and vice president of Exxon. He is considered one of the leaders in the oil industry.
Ramsey was extremely active in Roanoke College activities, including national chairman for the Annual Giving Fun and the first Associate Chairman for the Annual Fund (a position he serve for three years). He was a leader in the capital funds program for building the library and was also a leader in the Anniversary Challenge Campaign. Ramsey was also a member of the development committee for the New Priorities campaign.
Ramsey has served on the Roanoke College Board of Trustees since 1959. In 1968, he received the Roanoke College medal for "an outstanding career which took him throughout the world as a developer and key executive of America's largest industrial producer and marketer of oil and related products." He and his wife Ersel Ann Orender raised their daughter, Ann Woodson Ramsey together.
Woodson Ramsey Jr. received the Roanoke College Medal in 1968.