The Clackamas County Historical Society announced July 26 the addition of its newest board member, Larry McIntyre of West Linn.

“We look forward to Larry sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for Clackamas County,” CCHS Board President Craig Danielson said.

Larry and Vernielle McIntyre have lived for 37 years in West Linn, where McIntyre held elected offices from 1982 through 1987 including mayor, city council and planning commission. He has served as a member of the Willamette Falls Heritage Foundation, South Fork Water Board and the West Linn Fair Board.

McIntyre was in the paper and food service packaging industry for more than 45 years, and owned a distribution/recycling company in the greater Portland area until retiring in 2009.

Since then, McIntyre has spent many hours researching the history of West Linn and the surrounding communities at the historical society, developing speech material and the tours he gives to seniors. In doing so, he has become a regular at the CCHS Family History Research Library.

CCHS FHR Library President Judy Chambers said, “Larry is a good ‘idea person.’ He is connected to so many knowledgeable people who value our history, probably because Larry himself is so very interested in people and in what they have to say. He’ll bring a lot of interest to the board, and contribute positively to our end-product.”

McIntyre said he was happy to join the historical society board because he considers the group friends who are doing good work for the community.

“I’m glad to have joined the museum board because I’m concerned with the general direction of education,” McIntyre said. “Sure, you can get a lot of information these days off the Internet, but it’s usually just the piece you are looking for, and not the background of a subject. That back story is the true history, and that is found in libraries and museums.”

McIntyre’s current favorite exhibit at the Museum of the Oregon Territory is the new tribute to the history of the South Fork water line.

“Few people understand the depth of what everyone went through to get from point A to point B on that project,” McIntyre said.

Other changes to the Clackamas County Historical Society staff this summer include the appointment of Mark Hurlburt as volunteer coordinator, following the retirement of Mary Lou Bergert, and the part-time appointment of Roxandra Pennington as marketing director.

The Museum of the Oregon Territory overlooks Willamette Falls from 211Tumwater Drive, off Highway 99E in Oregon City. Call 503-655-5574 for more information, or visit clackamashistory.org.