Stanley Nicholas Jon Olum
Former Saint Lucia Politician and Cabinet Minister

Stanley Nicholas Jon Odlum (9 May 1936 – 19 February 2013) was a Saint Lucian politician.

Early life and education

Stanley Nicholas Jon Odlum was born on 9 May 1936 in Castries, Saint Lucia the son of a barber.

Career

Originally from the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) Odlum was also a member of the now defunct Progressive Labour Party (PLP), led by his brother George Odlum, he was the party's sole successful Parliamentary candidate in 1982. He was made a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Human Services and Family Affairs on 10 December 2001.

In the early 1970s he wrote sports reports for the "Voice of St Lucia" newspaper, and also gave weekly sports summaries on television.  Later he became the Minister for Sport.

Odlum first came to political prominence during the heady days of the early seventies when the advocacy groups St Lucia Action Movement (SLAM) and Forum emerged. Inevitably, he would graduate to the Saint Lucia Labour Party which was itself the product of the grass roots and working class movement. He would, in 1974, reap immediate success capturing 71% of the votes cast to romp home as the Representative for the Castries South Constituency. That victory would result in a lifelong love affair between the constituents and Jon, one that would be broken only his passing. He was re-elected in 1979 with almost 72% of the vote.

His loyalty to family would see Jon leaving the Labour Party and teaming up with older brother George and in a three-way contest in 1982 Jon was returned as the Parliamentary Representative with 49% of the vote.

He would return to his Labour family in 1997 and was once more victorious with 62% of the vote. His final electoral foray for his beloved Party would be in 2001 where he prevailed with 52% of the vote. History will record that Jon Odlum never lost an election under the Saint Lucia Party’s banner.

Honours and awards

For his service to “The Community and Government” Jon was awarded the Saint Lucia Medal of Honour (SLMH, Gold), the second highest award which could be given to a civilian.

Personal life

Odlum was married to Mona.

Death and legacy

Jon Odlum died on 19 February 2013 following a long illness, He was 76.

The former Marigot Secondary School, opened in 2006, was officially renamed the Jon Odlum Secondary School during a function held for the purpose on Tuesday, 1 March 2016.