Kessler Richard Cannon (December 23, 1915 – October 9, 1986, known as Kess Cannon) was an American radio broadcaster and state legislator from Oregon. He was a Republican who served two two-year terms in the Oregon House of Representatives. Outside the legislature, Cannon was a broadcaster and executive for radio station KBND in Bend. He also served as Governor Tom McCall's assistant for natural resources before becoming director of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
Early life
Cannon was born in Portland, Oregon on December 23, 1915."Metke Plans Senate Race; Cannon seeks Representative Post", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, March 2, 1960, p. 1. via Newspapers.com "Hanson, Cannon Seek Seat at Legislature", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, October 28, 1960, p. 1. via Newspapers.com Mainwaring, Bill, "More Junior Colleges in Oregon Urged by Cannon", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, February 24, 1961, p. 8. via Newspapers.com Grant, Ila S., "Cannon, Evick Seek Reprehensive Post", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, November 2, 1962, p. 1. via Newspapers.com He was the son of Arthur M. Cannon and Olive (Pfiffner) Cannon. His father was born in Illinois and moved to Oregon in 1909, where he was a public school superintendent and administrator for 35 years."Kes Cannon's Father Dies", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, May 5, 1958, p. 5. via Newspapers.com "Kessler Richard Cannon", FamilySearch database, www.familysearch.org, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, accessed May 11, 2020. Cannon grew up and attended public school in Hood River and Toledo He graduated from Toledo High School in 1933."Kessler Cannon", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, September 11, 1986, p. 20. via Newspapers.com
Cannon went on to attended college at the University of Oregon, where he received a bachelor's degree in 1937. During his senior year, Cannon won the university's Failing-Beeckman oratorical contest, one of the school's top honors at that time."Exercises at University Start Today", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, May 28, 1938, p. 8. via Newspapers.com After graduation, Cannon stayed on at the university as a graduate assistant.
After leaving the university, Cannon took a teaching position at Crook County High School in Prineville. While in Prineville, he taught classes in speech, social science, and music. He was also the school's debate coach and band director."Debate Tournament to be this Weekend", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, March 5, 1941, p. 5. via Newspapers.com ", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, March 14, 1941, p. 8. via Newspapers.com
In 1938, Cannon married Blanche Moore. She was born in Jefferson County and grew up in Prineville. Together they had two sons."Prineville", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, June 9, 1938, p. 4. via Newspapers.com
In 1940, Cannon ran for a seat on the Prineville city council. He was one of 13 candidates seeking to fill six council positions. The field included the six incumbent councilmen. While the council got two new members, Cannon was not one of them."Many Candidates Seek City Jobs at Prineville", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, October 28, 1940, p. 5."Woman to Serve of Prineville Council", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, November 12, 1940, p. 2.
In 1941, Cannon moved to Coos Bay, Oregon, where he taught at Marshfield High School. At Marshfield, he taught English, speech, and American history."Speech Instructor is Employed for M.H.S.", The World, Coos Bay, Oregon, July 2, 1941, p. 4.via Newspapers.com "Kessler Cannon, Miss Evans Quit for New Positions", The World, Coos Bay, Oregon, May 27, 1943, p. 8.via Newspapers.com Cannon was also the school's debate coach and band leader."Awards Made to Students Friday As Year Closes", The World, Coos Bay, Oregon, May 30, 1942, p. 1, 3.via Newspapers.com
Broadcasting and civic affairs
In 1943, Cannon left Coos Bay for a new job at radio station KBND in Bend. He began his radio career as the station's commercial manager and general announcer. In that position, he was a regular program presenter. His most popular program was an agriculture and crop report. As a result of that program, he was made an honorary member of the Central Oregon Milk Producers and the Deschutes County Cattlemen's Association.
In Bend, Cannon also got involved in a wide range of civic and social groups. He became active in the Bend Chamber of Commerce and joined the Masons and the local Eagles lodge as well as serving as president of local Parent-Teacher Association."Elect Kessler Cannon State Representative", political advertisement, Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, November 4, 1960, p. 1.via Newspapers.com
In 1944, Cannon joined the United States Army as an infantryman. His first assignment was in the Army personnel office at Camp Roberts in California."Local News", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, October 16, 1944, p. 5."Kessler Cannon to Rejoin KBND", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, July 10, 1946, p. 5. In the Army, Cannon continued to promote central Oregon. He had the Bend Chamber of Commerce send him tourist brochures to pass out to fellow soldiers at Camp Roberts."Local News", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, May 4, 1945, p. 3. In early 1946, he was reassigned to Fort McClellan in Alabama. Cannon served in the Army for almost two years and achieved the rank of staff sergeant. Near the end of his service, he was transferred to Fort Lewis in Washington state where he was discharged in July 1946."Local News", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, June 27, 1946, p. 5.
After leaving the Army, Cannon returned to Bend and went back to his broadcasting job at KBND radio. Upon his return, he was promoted to assistant station manager and program announcer. Cannon delivered a wide variety of broadcasts including news, sports, agriculture updates, and history programs."1963 Regular Session (52nd): November 11 – December 2", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed May 9, 2020. One of his most popular programs was called 15 Minute Histories, which was first aired on KBND in 1953. It was a series that featured Cannon's interviews with Oregon pioneers and homesteaders, who told their stories for the radio audience.15 Minute Histories, interviews by Kessler Cannon, audio recordings of KBND radio programs, Deschutes County Library, Bend, Oregon, accessed May 9, 2020."15 Minute Histories To Air on KPOV", The Homesteader (Vol. 45; No. 3), Deschutes County Historical Society, Bend, Oregon, March 2019, p. 4. Eventually, he became known as the "voice of KBND"."Station Reports Two Promotions", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, February 13, 1962, p. 6.
Cannon also reengaged with community groups and expanded his civic activities. He joined the local Elks lodge in early 1946."Elks to Initiate Many Candidates", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, February 12, 1946, p. 1. Later that year, Cannon worked with the music committee at Bend's First Presbyterian Church to organize a choir. He volunteered to serve as choir director."Presbyterian Church Choir Organized ", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, October 11, 1946, p. 8. In the early 1950s, he began teaching speech classes at Central Oregon Community College."Class in Speech is Offered Again", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, March 20, 1953, p. 5. He also joined the Central Oregon Hospital Foundation board of directors, a position he held for nine years. He was elected president of the Bend Chamber of Commerce in 1957 and served in that position for two years."Kessler Cannon New President of Bend C of C", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, December 4, 1956, p. 8. That same year, he served as chairman of the Deschutes County school reorganization committee. As a result of his outstanding service to the Bend community, Cannon was honored as the city's 1957 Citizen of the Year.Brogan, Phil F., "Kessler Cannon Named Top Bend Senior Citizen in ‘57", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, January 25, 1958, p. 1.
State representative
In 1960, Cannon decided to run as a Republican for the District 27 seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. District 27 represented Deschutes County in central Oregon. He was unopposed in the Republican primary. In the Democratic primary, Orval J. Hanson of Bend was also unopposed. Cannon won the general election. The final vote tally was 5,482 for Cannon against 4,293 for Hanson."These Candidates Seek Legislative Positions", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 12, 1960, p. 12."Foley Rolls Up Victory in Race for Judgeship", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, May 21, 1960, p. 1.Brogan, Phil F., "Overhulse Beats Metke for Senate, Cannon is Winner", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, November 4, 1960, p. 1.
Cannon took his seat in the Oregon House of Representatives on January 9, 1961, representing District 27. He worked through the 1961 regular legislative session which ended on May 10. During the session, he served on the agriculture committee as well as the elections and reapportionment committee."1961 Regular Session (51st): January 9 – May 10", Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide, Oregon State Archives, Salem, Oregon, accessed May 6, 2020."Evick, Cannon Named to Posts", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, January 9, 1961, p. 1. To keep his constituents informed, Cannon broadcast daily legislative updates on KBND radio.
Cannon was an active legislator. He sponsored the bill that establish a state-wide community college system. He also developed the reapportionment plan that redrew the state's legislative districts based on the 1960 United States census. The plan made only a few changes to existing districts in northwest Oregon and one change in north central Oregon. The House elections committee approved the plan, supported by coalition of Republicans and eastern Oregon Democrats. Most western Oregon Democrats opposed the plan."Cannon Plan Tentatively Okayed, 5-2", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, March 7, 1961, p. 1."Minor Reapportionment Eyed", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 7, 1961, p. 16."Reapportionment Plan Heads for House Battle", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 14, 1961, p. 16."New Reapportionment Plan Miffs Portland", Capital Journal, Salem, Oregon, March 22, 1961, p. 14. Cannon's reapportionment bill was ultimately passed."Apportion Bill Approved", Bend Bulletin, Bend, Oregon, May 1, 1961, p. 1. After the 1961 session ended, the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives appointed Cannon to the legislature's interim committee on natural resources. The interim committee was chartered to review natural resource issues and related laws and regulations. Based on that review, the committee was assigned to draft appropriate legislation for considered during the next legislative session."Three County Solons Given Important Jobs", Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, June 15, 1961, p. 18.
Several months after the 1961 legislature session was adjourned, the Oregon Supreme Court determined that the legislature's reapportionment plan was unconstitutional and ordered Oregon Secretary of State Howell Appling to develop a new apportionment plan. The court directed that the new plan be based solely on population. Appling complied and delivered a new plan that reduced the number of eastern Oregon senators from six to five and made a number of changes to eastern Oregon House district, resulting in a net loss of three eastern Oregon seats. One of the House changes combined Cannon's Deschutes County district with the neighboring district that included Crook and Jefferson counties, creating the new tri-county District 21."Veteran Legislators Affected by Proposal", Eugene Guard, Eugene, Oregon, September 28, 1961, p. 5.