We pay tribute today to a man of great distinction, talent and humility, Mr. Marvin Leon Cannon. Marvin was born on November 11, 1938, in Dallas, TX, the last of seven children of Will and Odelia Cannon. He came into the world at a time and place where African Americans were struggling to be respected and acknowledged for their day-to-day contributions. Yet for all that, Marvin grew up focused on what was important to make it through those hard times: Family, Faith and hard work.

Marvin was ensconced in the church at an early age attending Munger Avenue Baptist Church and singing in the choir along with his sisters and mother. At 13, his sister, who would become a life-long mentor, got him a job at a funeral home, sweeping and mopping the floors at night when funeral services were complete. He would love to tell us the story of the time that the funeral director came in silently and quietly called out his name, otherwise known to him as his last day on that job.

As he matured through high school, he became known for his attention to detail and strategic problem-solving, skills learned early that would ultimately propel him through his career. He graduated valedictorian of his senior class at Booker T. Washington High School in 1957. He chose to go to Tuskegee University in Alabama, finding himself short four-hundred dollars for his books. His last paycheck from his boss contained exactly four-hundred dollars extra at which time he was told by the Jewish shopkeeper, to get on that train and go to school. Marvin never forgot that loan and repaid him. But this act of kindness became a foundational principle for him for the rest of his life; to always give back where you can and bring people up with you as you rise.

Marvin joined the ROTC at Tuskegee and was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. In 1961, Marvin was invited by the President of Tuskegee University to Washington DC to meet with a coalition of government leaders including President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Of note, through their Greek affiliations, Alpha and AKA, Marvin made the acquaintance of Miss Tuskegee during that time, Maxine Myers.

Upon graduating from Tuskegee University, Marvin was commissioned as a 1^st Lieutenant in the United States Air Force where he worked as an Electrical Engineer. He happened to work at this time along with another commissioned officer who was married to Maxine Myers best friend. Known for his determination, Marvin visited Maxine in Alabama and married her one year later June 17^th, 1967. To this union, two daughters Monica Cannon and Marjory Cannon were born in 1968 and 1969.

After seven years, Marvin was honorably discharged from the Air Force and obtained his MBA in 1970. He earned his Master of Economics in 1979 and began his 29-year career at General Motors. He rose to become a GM Sales and Marketing Executive where his promotions and assignments took him to six out of the seven continents. As was embedded into him as a young man, as Marvin rose in his career, he made sure to reach back and open opportunities for other African Americans in GM. He was key to some of the companies’ early diversity programs. Marvin’s last assignment took him to Cleveland, OH where he retired from General Motors in 1999.

Upon retirement, Marvin became an active member of Cleveland’s Tuskegee club, serving as Treasurer for several years. Each year, Marvin would attend Cleveland inner-city schools to impart the importance of education and career development.

Marvin Cannon is survived by his wife, Maxine Cannon, his daughters Monica, and Marjory Cannon (John Stoddart), his sister-in-law, Connie Cannon, his niece Sharon Martin, a nephew, Leon Cannon and a host of great nieces and nephews.