William Woodward Jr.: A Life Painted in Shadows and Light Born in Washington, D.C., in 1920 into a family steeped in wealth and legacy—the heirs to the Hanover National Bank fortune, the opulent Belair estate, and a prominent lineage in racing circles—William Woodward Jr.’s life was one of extraordinary privilege juxtaposed with profound tragedy. More than just an heir, he became a decorated war veteran, a figure of intense public fascination, and ultimately, a victim of his own tumultuous existence. His story, tragically cut short in 1955 by the shocking act of violence perpetrated by his w…