The Institute of Wood Science (IWSc) represented the interests and knowledge of wood scientists and wood technologists in the UK and beyond between 1955 and 2009 when it merged with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3). In that time 27 presidents served, from industry or academia, leading the IWSc and guiding decisions relating to education, communication and the award of professional qualifications. The broad history of the Institute has been documented in 30th- and 50th-anniversary reviews published in the IWSc Journal. However, the contribution of the presidents to the success of the institute, as well as their reputations in wood science, wood technology or industry, has not been recorded. Approaching the 70th anniversary of what is now the Wood Technology Group of IOM3, this paper reviews the circumstances under which the IWSc was created and examines the contribution of each of the presidents to the health and success of the institute.