Charles Albert Cannon was born in 1892 in Concord, NC to a textile mill owner. After his father’s death in 1921, Cannon succeeded his father as owner of Cannon Mills Inc., which quickly became a great success. Cannon expressed a deep affection for North Carolina as he served as a trustee for Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Davidson College. He also was a member of the North Carolina Highway Commission, State Parks Commission, and Public Works Commission. Cannon founded the Cabarrus Memorial Hospital where he served on the board for more than 30 years. In 1969, Cannon helped establish the Cannon Music Camp, now named after him, at Appalachian State University where his daughter, Mariam, was a devotee until her death in 2007. Appalachian State University also built a residence hall in his honor named “Cannon Residence Hall” which was completed in 1968 and dedicated in 1969. In October of 2017, an educational documentary was released about Cannon’s inspiring life as a mill owner and his industrial footprints. Cannon continued serving on the board of Cannon Mills Inc. until his death in 1971, his retirement having been a few years earlier.
