What’s in a name? For one Wyoming mountain, the answer is a lot.
A new debate is unfolding over what to call a peak in Grand Teton National Park—because its current name honors a disgraced former park official tied to deeply disturbing allegations.
And now, the people of Wyoming are deciding what kind of story they want that mountain to tell.
The History Behind Mount Woodring Is Troubling
The mountain in question is currently named Mount Woodring, after Samuel Woodring, who became Grand Teton’s first superintendent in 1929.
But just five years later, he faced serious accusations: attempting to sexually assault an 11-year-old girl.
Though the charges were later dropped—largely because the victim’s parents didn’t want her to face the trauma of testifying—Woodring resigned from his position and quickly left the county.
Even without a trial, the community never forgot what happened.
A New Push to Break Ties With a Tainted Legacy
Earlier this year, a formal request was submitted to change the mountain’s name.
That proposal reignited long-held concerns over why the peak still bears the name of someone accused of such horrific acts.
Two names are now in the spotlight as potential replacements: Equality Peak and Raven Peak.
A Call for Equality on the Map
One of the frontrunners, Equality Peak, comes from Jim Greer—a Utah-based entrepreneur who, along with his family, noticed a glaring omission in the Tetons: not a single peak is named after a woman.
They wanted to change that and honor Nellie Tayloe Ross, America’s first female governor who led Wyoming back in 1925.
The name “Equality Peak,” Greer explained, is more than symbolic. “It’s an aspirational value that’s embedded in our democracy,” he said.
A Name Rooted in Nature and Endurance
On the other side of the debate is Raven Peak, proposed by a trio who helped uncover the unsettling truth about Woodring’s past.
Retired professor Bob Righter, along with former grad students Paul Horton and Bruce Noble, spent years piecing together documents and witness accounts detailing multiple abuse allegations against Woodring—including another story involving a 12-year-old girl who was too afraid to speak up.
The group believes a name like “Raven Peak,” grounded in the nature and wildlife of the Tetons, is more timeless—and less divisive.
What the Documents Reveal About Woodring
Much of the new momentum for renaming the mountain stems from the group’s deep-dive into archival documents.
One of the most damning pieces came from Woodring’s former secretary, H.M. Sherman, who wrote about credible allegations involving more than one young girl.
Sherman said Woodring allegedly admitted some level of guilt during a private conversation—claiming that a girl sitting on his lap was somehow a sign of consent.
He later changed his tune, pleaded not guilty after being arrested, and claimed he had been framed.
Despite the charges never going to trial, the stain on his reputation remained, and he died just five years after resigning.
Officials and Locals React to the Push for Change
Shelley Messer, a natural resource analyst and voting member of the Wyoming Board on Geographic Names, said the community was well aware of what happened back then.
“It kind of put a scarlet letter on his name,” she told Cowboy State Daily, adding that she found the uncovered documents “very persuasive.”
The Board has asked advocates of the name change to return with alternate naming suggestions, which led to the two current contenders.
Raven Peak vs. Equality Peak—A Philosophical Divide
While both names offer meaningful replacements, the decision isn’t just about aesthetics.
Horton, one of the researchers behind Raven Peak, argued that Equality Peak might stir political tension, especially in today’s climate.
He believes nature-based names are safer and longer-lasting.
“The reputation of a person can change with time,” added Noble, “but the status of a raven is not likely to change.”
To them, that makes Raven Peak the more enduring and unifying choice.
Why This Name Change Matters
For many, this isn’t just about renaming a mountain.
It’s about righting a historical wrong and deciding who we choose to elevate in public memory.
Leaving the name as it is would mean continuing to honor a man whose past, uncovered in detail, is incompatible with the values national parks aim to represent.
What Happens Next?
The Wyoming Board on Geographic Names is expected to continue deliberating, with local and national input playing a role in the final decision.
Whether the mountain ends up as Raven Peak or Equality Peak, what’s clear is this: the days of Mount Woodring are likely numbered.
And soon, the Tetons may have a new name that reflects justice, dignity—or perhaps the quiet, enduring wisdom of a raven.