Thomas Condon was born in 1822 Cork County Ireland and died in 1907. Thomas Condon was a man with many accomplishments. Thomas Condon was a pioneer geologist, teacher, author, and clergyman who came to Oregon traveling by ship around the Cape Horn. His adventure of sailing around the Cape was done by many of the early pioneer families that settled in our area.

Condom's first professional job when he came to Oregon was a missionary he later established a Congregational church in the Dalles around 1862, this church invited all Christian faiths in its doors.

Condon loved science and was one of the first people to scientifically study the Fossils in John Day, which just happens to be the most important region for fossils and study through out the world, scientist from all around the world come to the Fossil Beds for study and digs. The Fossil bed museum is a must to visit with the most diverse and numerous amounts of exhibits on display.
His first trip there was in 1862 and he made many return visits in the following years. He became Oregon's first state geologist while teaching geology at Pacific University in the year 1872. When the University of Oregon was founded in 1876, Condon was appointed its first professor of geology and continued as professor, and chair of Natural Sciences until his death in 1907. Condon's book, "The Two Islands" was the foundation for the study of Oregon's historical geology.

In 1871 Condon had taken up residence in the town of Forest Grove.

Condon's influence in St. Helens came about 1853 when he was a pastor sent to the area by the Missionary Society, and he taught in the first school in St. Helens. Condon was a man of great influence and was highly respected through out the entire state of Oregon.

When St. Helens built their school they named the school after one of Oregon's great pioneers, Condon.

Unfortunately through the lack of knowledge of early Oregon and St. Helens history, people who had sat on the St. Helens school board changed the name of the school from Condon to the Lewis and Clark school. In fairness I guess they changed the name to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition, but that is still no excuse in the name change. Many people in the community was not happy with this decision, I was one. We need to remember the people who came before us and who were our foundation as a community, and state. And who were instrumental in facilitating to the rest of the nation and world the importance and uniqueness of Oregon.

There are so many schools and facilities that are named Lewis and Clark that we could have kept and paid homage to Thomas Condon for his contributions to the settlement, expansion and discoveries that made Oregon what it is today.

There were many people who settled in Oregon who may not have been as recognized as Thomas Condon, never the less they were as important in our states birth as Thomas Condon.

I would hope that people in the community and on the school board would consider changing the name of the school back to Condon. We need to keep our history alive and we need to educate our students of our state and community's beginning.