Preserving a Legacy

Preserving a Legacy

June 30, 2021 | Member features · Membership information · Supporting Kansas

We all want to be remembered. It is rare to be remembered because of a grand discovery, but Joel Condray's grandfather, Warren Condray, will be. In 1955, Warren discovered a brand new species of dinosaur on their farm in the middle of rural Kansas. Joel went on to write the story of his grandfather's discovery.

 

Joel, a Kansas native, always enjoyed hearing stories about his grandfather’s life experiences while helping him on the farm. The discovery of the dinosaur skeleton definitely topped his list of favorite stories. After the skeleton was confirmed to be a new species of dinosaur, it was named the Silvisaurus Condrayi, after Warren's last name. Joel believes this Kansas story is an important one to remember. “I had always heard incredible stories from my grandpa and I wanted to make sure they didn’t fade away as he got older.”

Ultimately, the book, A True Kansas Treasure, is about the special bond between Joel and his grandfather that came from this special story.

 
A True Kansas Treasure not only tells the story Joel grew up hearing, but also preserves his grandfather Warren's legacy. He knew the story by heart so it only took him thirty minutes to write. He then took his story to a publisher where the book was assembled. Traditional watercolor artist Mark Ward provided beautiful illustrations for the story. For Joel, it was incredible to see his favorite childhood story come to life.
 

If you or someone you know would enjoy hearing the story of Kansas’ only dinosaur, A True Kansas Treasure is available to purchase on the True Kansas Treasure website and on the From the Land of Kansas website.

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