A native son of Eugene, Oregon, Ormond R. Bean was one of five sons of U.S. District Court Judge (1910-1931) Robert Sharp Bean and Ina Condon Bean, daughter of the famous Oregon geologist Thomas Condon. Trained in civil engineering and architecture, he became one of Portland’s busiest city commissioners from 1933 forward and ran for mayor of Portland in 1960. A member of numerous civic organizations, Bean also invented and patented a sink for the treatment of athletic injuries (he managed several athletic squads while an undergraduate at the University of Oregon).
During World War II he served as the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency Regional Director of Transportation in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Cairo, Egypt.
1885 (October 21) Born, Eugene, Oregon[Date needed]High School in Salem and Eugene, Oregon1909BS Civil Engineering, University of Oregon1911Architecture certificate, MIT 19111933Architect, Lawrence, Holford, Allyn and Bean (Portland, Oregon)19331939Portland Commissioner of Public Works1940Portland Public Utilities Commissioner19401946War Service. Includes tours as Regional Director, Office of Defense Transportation, Hawaii (1 yr.) and Puerto Rico (6 mos.; and Director, Transportation, US State Department, Middle East Supply Center, Cairo, Egypt1946Opens architectural practice with son Ormond R. Bean, Jr.19491967Commissioner of Finance, Portland19491950, 1952 Administrator, Bureau of Parks19491953 Administrator, Bureau of Buildings and the Office of the Planning Commission19501952, 1958 Administrator, Bureau of Street Transportation Investigation and Bureau of Traffic and Transportation19521954, 1956 Administrator, Municipal Golf Links19541956 Administrator, Bureau of City Hall 19541959 Administrator, Bureau of Municipal Auditorium19541956 Administrator, Bureau of Weights and Measures19581966 Administrator, Bureau of Municipal Garage and Shops (changed to Bureau of Shops in 1962) 19581966 Administrator, Street Lighting (changed to Bureau of Lighting and Power in 1962)1960Mayoral Bid, City of Portland1968University of Oregon Distinguished Service Award recipient1975DeceasedFrom the guide to the Ormond R. Bean papers, 1930-1960, 1866-1965 1930s-1960s, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)