A True Kansas Treasure
In 1955, a unique discovery was made in rural Kansas. For years this discovery would be the source of a story told over and over by a grandpa to his grandson. Today, the story of this discovery is preserved in the book A True Kansas Treasure and is the official State Land Fossil of Kansas.
Warren Condray, a Kansas farmer and rancher, made a remarkable discovery on his land: the fossilized remains of a previously unknown dinosaur species. This finding became a cherished family story told by Warren to his grandson, Joel Condray. Inspired by these stories and aiming to honor his grandfather’s legacy, Joel authored “A True Kansas Treasure,” a children’s book that captures the spirit of their shared bond and the significance of the discovery.
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.”
Silvisaurus condrayi was a remarkable discovery because it dated back to the late Cretaceous Period when much of Kansas was under water. Based on the fossil, this dinosaur was a land animal that was three feet tall, 13 feet in length and weighing one ton. The fossil on display at the KU Natural History Museum along with other fossils found in Kansas.
In February 2023, Kansas legislation passed for this dinosaur to be the State Land Fossil, making it officially the first land dinosaur found in Kansas. Joel, a 6th grade teacher in the Goddard school district included his students in the process. “The students were given credit for making history; without the students being excited and the help of Senator Elaine Bowers, it wouldn’t have had the same momentum,” said Joel.
A True Kansas Treasure is available for sale at https://shop.fromthelandofkansas.com/a-true-kansas-treasure-by-joel-condray. You can also learn more about the book at www.truekstreasure.com.
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