-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Hdo5h6cR72bjXTH6Z5ak+CkOZSTCmH57gf7mZyNaVGG/ebDoqhZMDnWa6R0YH98L
 2DjozYVgsGFRXihVo3hbOg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-022163.txt : 20041129
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-022163.hdr.sgml : 20041129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041129184218
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-022163
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041124
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041129
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENDRON THOMAS A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001113706

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08408
		FILM NUMBER:		041172906

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5001 NORTH SECOND STREET
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODWARD GOVERNOR CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000108312
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL APPARATUS [3620]
		IRS NUMBER:				361984010
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5001 N SECOND ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 7001
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61125-7001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8158777441

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5001 N SECOND ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 7001
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61125-7001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000108312</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WOODWARD GOVERNOR CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WGOV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001113706</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GENDRON THOMAS A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5001 N. SECOND STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; COO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>71.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-11-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>111662</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares become exercisable at the rate of 25% per year beginning one year from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol J. Manning, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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