Talk:Woodsy Owl/Archives/2013

I created Woodsy
Hi. In 1969-1970, a second grader in Xenia Ohio created this thing. Check your records a second time. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 69.223.81.143 (talk • contribs).


 * This is incorrect. -- Stbalbach 18:40, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

Woodsy Owl was created by a student in the Rochester, NY School District in early 1970. Woodsy became the property of the U.S. Government. Since he is the property of the U.S. Government he now belongs to the American people. Woodsy's "Robin Hood" hat was reflective of the student's British heritage. Woodsy's wide belt-looped bell bottom green pants were representitive of a pair of the student's Carnaby Street style English pants. Woodsy's rotund tummy was reflective of both his grandfather's and his art instructor's tummy. The Original Slogan submitted with the art work was, "Give a Hoot!" "Don't Pollute!" "Who?" "Who?" "You!" "We'll keep America Looking Good!", was added by the folks in the US Government. The "Who?" "Who?" Hoot was included in the slogan thanks to a fellow student that used to sneak up behind the rest of us and yell a "Who?" "Who?" Hoot in our ear, thinking it was funny! Yes, I take great pride in being Woodsy's creator. I never knew he became a reality until one night I was sitting watching TV and there was his PSA on the air. I nearly fell off the chair. No one had ever notified me that he had ever become the winner. Later when I had married I mentioned in passing to my wife that I created Woodsy. She was skeptical, so I took out a sketch pad and drew the original Woodsy as he appeared in 1970. She held up the sketch when a Woodsy PSA came on. She could NOT believe her eyes. Anyway, as I said, Woodsy belongs to the American people. I am just glad that I could have a part in creating a simple little cartoon character that could bring awareness of "Keeping America Looking Good!" —Preceding unsigned comment added by BigBeau1 (talk • contribs) 20:39, 14 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Even if your right, you have no way to prove it, and there is evidence to the contrary, so please stop editing Wikipedia as it is against the rules to remove cited material, and against the rules to add material with no citation. If you want it included in Wikipedia than I recommend you get your information published someplace reputable first, like NBC News, then it can be included with a citation. Until then your a menace to the project by continually deleting cited material. 71.191.40.106 (talk) 16:00, 17 September 2008 (UTC)

Who created Woodsy Owl?
Who created Woodsy Owl is not a matter of debate. The sources are clear on this. It appears a number of jokers have decided to hijack Wikipedia and make various non-sense claims, some even engaging it edit warring and removing cited sources. Indeed for some length of time these non-sense edits were uncontested and so now the mis-information has propagated out and now can be found all over the web. I have restored the correct and cited information and hopefully that will make it stick. Here it is for reference in case someone manages to hijack the article again in the future:
 * The "Give as Hoot, don't Pollute" slogan was created in 1970 by US Forest ranger Chuck WIlliams, who was the Forest Service's technical consultant for the "Lassie" TV show which featured a Forest Service ranger and his family. Williams, along with Glenn Kovar, also of the US Forest Service, and Harold Bell of Western Publishing (producer of Smokey Bear and Lassie TV show) then brainstormed the idea for the Woodsy motif.

-- Stbalbach 18:53, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

This is incorrect- the author of this article from a small newspaper took incorrect third party heresay information. The cited websites are inaccurate. The real creator of Woodsy Owl, the charachter name and slogan was developed by William Smith of Buffalo, NY who has verifiable government documents, evidence,letters, numerous witnesses and the original woodsy owl charachter and poster which is being donated to the Smithsonian Institute. Please see website www.symbols.gov/woodsy/index.shtml under strategic plans which specifically discusses how we created the charachter by children and by the National Campers and Hikers Association. Chuck Williams ,Glenn Kovar,and Harold Bell of Western Publishing were people involved only in advertising and promoting the charachter and slogan after the charachter and slogan were already developed. by William Smith —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Buffalobills (talk • contribs).


 * Buffalobills, thank you for communicating. I downloaded the PDF you mentioned, located here. I could find no mention of the name "William Smith". Can you provide a specific page number, or another reference? -- Stbalbach 02:08, 1 February 2007 (UTC)
 * I would assume thast anyone who actually created a character would know how to spell the word. I can find no conifrmation of the above claims.  if any actually exists, please provide it before editing the article again.Lisapollison 03:16, 27 February 2007 (UTC)

It's a fact and certfied that William Frederick Smith II of Buffalo,NY was the original creator of Woodsy Owl name, charachter and the slogan "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute." Woodsy Owl

In early 1970, the US Forest Service, USDA created a formal campaign to increase the awareness of pollution. They specifically wanted children to be involved in the campaign because the campaign was specifically marketed to children. (reference US Forest Service Strategic plan)

1. The first phase of the campaign, in early 1970, was that they created a contest for children to create a character, name the character, create a slogan and put it on a specific size poster. The children also had to write a 500 word essay about pollution and nature. The contest consisted of having specific age categories and various prizes were awarded. The US Forest Service wanted children to create the campaign for children. (reference US Forest Service strategic plan, congressional records)

2. The second phase was obtaining the top ten posters from around the country and they would be test marketed in Washington D.C. with volunteers, children and the US Forest Service.( reference: US Forest Service Strategic Plan)

Surprisingly, my poster and essay was selected from the top ten in the country and was test marketed in Washington, D.C. I was the original creator of the Woodsy Character, name and slogan. However, I had just a green hat and a red feather on the Woodsy character but in test marketing they put on more clothes on the character and created an anthropomorphic owl. I won the contest and received a congratulatory letter. I also received my certificate of completion for an all expense paid week at the Rushford Conservation camp in Rushford, NY.

Since I was only 12 years old my parents and I signed a contract with the US Forest Service and the US Attorney General so that the US Forest Service could use the Woodsy Character, name and slogan that I had created for the campaign (reference: contract, US Attorney General and US Forest Service,USDA) I was sponsored by camping group in Buffalo called Ken-Tonawanderers which is a group associated with the national camping group called National Campers and Hikers Associatio ( NCHA) which is now called Family Campers and RVers (FCRV) in which the national headquarters is in Depew, NY (near Buffalo,NY). 3. The third phase was to copyright and trademark the character, character name, and slogan. Also, the Congress and the Senate passed a specific bill in which the “Woodsy character, name and slogan would be the legal symbol and property of the US government (reference: law P.L  93-318)

4. The fourth phase was to license the character, character name and slogan to approved manufacturers. The money from this would be used to further the education and promotion of the campaign under the US symbols ( reference: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36,vol 2 Parts 200-299) buffalobillsBuffalobills 02:12, 24 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Again, provide actual PROOF of your claims. Stop repeating them. Simply re-stating a claim is not proof of a claim.  In fact, we have no way of knowing who you really are either.   If you have a link you can provide that backs up your claims then do so.  If you cannot provide such links or at least the page number or a publication and its ISBN number or publishing info please cease and desist from simply re-asserting your unproven claim.  Wikipedia is an encyclopedia and as such, it cannot include unverified claims.  If you can prove your claims, they can be included.LiPollis 11:52, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

in the ruins of babylon the archaeologists dig, the foundations of a wall from the time of gilgamesh, at the bottom of each brick: "i created woodsy owl" — Preceding unsigned comment added by 184.63.88.95 (talk) 19:36, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

The Babylonians in fact stole Woodsy Owl from the Egyptians except they did add the pants. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.55.82.223 (talk) 19:45, 15 April 2013 (UTC)

Is it possible that Woodsy was "invented" several times in several places?
With so many stories relating how a certain individual "invented" Woodsy Owl, I'm certainly loath to add my two cents worth, but I will anyway.

In 1969 my wife (of the time) was a member of a Conservation Group in Rutland, Vermont. The group decided they needed a logo and a slogan for posters and letterheads. She had the idea of a wise owl who "gave a hoot" and asked us all to "not pollute" (Give a hood, don't pollute). Being something of an artist, she asked me to draw the character. So I copied Howland Owl from the Pogo comic strip, added a green Robin Hood hat and green trousers and there you have Woodsy. We were close to people who worked for the Forest Service in the Rutland office at the time. Within a year we saw Woodsy being used by the USFS in their campaigns. We were delighted that Woodsy had taken on a life of his own. We never copyrighted the character, we never expected any reward for our creation and we are still delighted that our creation is still part of the conservation movement within the USFS. Richard9222 Vermont Richard9222 (talk) 02:37, 12 April 2011 (UTC)

Woodsy the Owl is clearly an archetype from the Jungian collective unconscious. Duh.

198.213.211.87 (talk) 15:30, 12 April 2013 (UTC)