Support is growing to rename Goss Lake Woods in honor of the man known as the “John Wayne of South Whidbey.” A petition is being circulated on South Whidbey to rename the woods after Gary Putney, the longtime steward of the public property who passed away in November at the age of 67.

The renaming effort is being spearheaded by the Friends of Goss Lake Woods.

“I am very supportive of changing the name to Putney Woods. It’s a phenomenal idea whose time has come,” said Island County Parks Superintendent Terri Arnold.

Putney was responsible for blazing most of the trails in the woods. He was a common sight to other equestrians and hikers there, and was often seen riding his white mule, Lulu, on the trails.

Following his death from cancer, the Friends of Goss Lake Woods, the Back County Horsemen and neighbors of the Putney farm on Keller Road began circulating a petition to rename the woods in honor of the man who was the volunteer caretaker of the woods.

The petition states “without Gary Putney, this county would not have one of the best trail systems in western Washington.”

The petition also recounts the work Putney and his wife Diana did in creating and maintaining the trails over the last 30 years. “He had a real passion for those woods and spent well over 1,000 hours each year maintaining clear trails, making signs for the trails, making benches, horse ties and picnic tables for the use of hikers, bikers and other horsemen. In addition, he organized and participated in annual trail clearing and trash clean-up workdays over and above the time he spent on his own clearing and cleaning up the trails.”

The petition will eventually be sent to the board of Island County commissioners, who are expected to ask for public comment before making a final decision on the name change.

Gayle Saran can be reached at 221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbeyrecord.com.