Outstanding Citizen

Foster Cannon 2006 Citizen of the Year Photo Courtesy of The Silsbee Bee

The Silsbee Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors elected to name Foster Cannon as the Outstanding Citizen of the Year for 2006.  Mr. Cannon was nominated by the Silsbee Woman’s Club for his many years of dedication to the Silsbee community.  Arvilla Jones says, “Foster Cannon is the most selfless and humble man I know.  A day is not complete unless he has done something for someone else.  However, he would never admit this to anyone.  If attention is paid to him, he will quietly leave the room.”

Foster Cannon was born in Shelby County, Texas on August 2, 1929, and lived there until he graduated from Shelbyville School in May 1946.  After graduation, he served in the merchant marines until joining the United States Army in 1947, where he served in the Pacific theater of operations.  Upon receiving an honorable discharge from the army, Cannon attended Lamar University where he earned an engineering degree and married Helen Hawn in 1954.  Cannon worked for Sun Oil Company until his retirement in 1991. 

Cannon has a long history of volunteering in the community.  According to the Silsbee Woman’s Club nomination, “ Foster volunteers wherever he is needed and seems to know of more places to volunteer than most of us.”  In 1998, Cannon started a handi-man program, in which he remains personally active.  His work in this program includes providing electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and yard work assistance to those in need.  The Silsbee Woman’s Club reports, “He has built several wheel-chair ramps for people who could not afford to pay someone to do this, usually using his own money to get the job done.” 

Cannon is a dedicated volunteer at the Christian Care Center.  The nomination letter from the Silsbee Woman’s Club states, “He does all repairs that are needed at the Center at no expense to the Center, works in the pantry when needed, and picks up and delivers all ordered and donated food items every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from HEB.”  

During the Christmas season, Cannon worked diligently to help organizations that brighten the holidays for those in need.  He took toys to the Silsbee Police Department for their “Blue Santa Program”, Some Other Place in Beaumont, UBI Caritas in Beaumont, New Covenant Baptist Church, and Silsbee Farm and Ranch Feed Store.  These toys were then distributed to children in need. 

Cannon is also active in his church and volunteers for church programs such as the Community of Hope by making hospital visits.  He also volunteers in the prison ministry, serving at the Mark Stiles unit and at the Federal Correctional Complex. 

While Cannon’s list of contributions is many, he never forgets to show appreciation for others that donate to the community.   He can often be found taking food to the Silsbee Post Office and are elementary schools for their assistance in food drives, as well as to the sheriff’s department for the mowing crews. 

“Foster Cannon personifies the idea of the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year.  We are grateful to the Silsbee Woman’s Club for the nomination that allows us to honor the many contributions Foster makes daily to Silsbee,” said Silsbee Chamber of Commerce president, Gehrig Brown. 

Foster Cannon will be recognized at the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and banquet on March 9, 2006, 7pm at the Silsbee High School.  Tickets are available at the Silsbee Chamber of Commerce.  The public is invited to a reception honoring Foster Cannon on March 10, 2006 from 3pm – 5pm at the home of Adalaide Cash Balaban at 105 Wade Street in Hendrix Place.  For more information call 385-5562.