Washington-Nile School District lost one of its own with the passing of Earl Thomas Conley on April 10, 2019. Country music legend, Earl Thomas Conley, was born October 17, 1941, in West Portsmouth, Ohio As a young man Conley moved to Nashville, TN in order to chase his dream of becoming a professional country singer/musician. Conley quickly went on to achieve a staggering 18 No. 1 Billboard Hot Country Hits.
Throughout the height of his stardom, Conley never forgot his roots. Through his philanthropic effort, his heart remained in his hometown where he founded the Earl Thomas Conley Scholarship, funded by Conley’s annual benefit concerts and golf tournaments. The Earl Thomas Conley Scholarship was designed to help local students who plan to chase their dreams of attending college or university. This scholarship has helped local students for over 25 years. Portsmouth West High School awards the Earl Thomas Conley in-house scholarship every year to a graduating senior.