-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VCzdDmBzYQmFDBYCuFkZp3yBhJB5DdXC1ExpTiCKy9Qa68jV8if4gNgmQzQNYwIJ
 M76k83hgFIS0cj0yiK5sZQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-022751.txt : 20041209
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-022751.hdr.sgml : 20041209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041209143208
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-022751
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041201
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041209

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Rittenberg Larry E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001299072

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08408
		FILM NUMBER:		041192923

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(815) 877-7441

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5001 N. SECOND STREET
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61111
</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>2004-12-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001299072</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rittenberg Larry E</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Woodward Governor Company Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>82</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>72.37</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>182</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Carol J. Manning, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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