Key Chicago Alumnus Dies
Dr. Charles E. Cannon
The AAMU Family mourns the recent death of long-time supportive Chicago alumnus Charles E. Cannon, 73, retired professor of chemistry and science chair at Columbia College Chicago.
An Alabama native, Cannon joined the faculty at Columbia College Chicago as its new chair in 1992. Dr. Cannon was also affiliated with the faculty at Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy from 1986-1992. He served as a Research Chemist for Amoco Research Center in Naperville, Illinois, from 1974-85.
Dr. Cannon earned the Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Alabama A&M University in 1968. He studied organic chemistry at the graduate level at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He went on to earn the Ph.D. degree in physical organic chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1974.
Dr. Cannon was inducted into the Alabama A&M University Alumni Hall of Fame in 2000. He also supported numerous University fundraising initiatives, including the 1875 Campaign, individual scholarships, the Alabama A&M University Annual Fund; and Band Uniform Campaign.
Prior to Columbia, Dr. Cannon also was active with the State of Illinois' Agricultural Education Curriculum Development Program and was a consultant for the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology at the University of Michigan. He was a site coordinator for Eastern Illinois University's Summer Adventures, an integrated academic program that combines the teaching of science with other disciplines. Cannon also taught at West Aurora High School and Elmhurst College.