Jacksonville, AL –Originally published in JSU’s Brett Buckner, in a sincere tribute to their former high school football player, Anthony Odell “Speedy” Cannon The Jacksonville High School (JHS) Class of 1973 has announced the establishing of the Anthony “Speedy” Cannon Endowed Memorial Scholarship at Jacksonville State University (JSU). This program commemorates fifty years ago the tragic accident which claimed the life of Cannon and hopes to ensure that his legacy is carried for generations to come.
Pam Baker-King who was a former JHS cheerleader, and a witness to the tragic incident and vividly recalls the October 6th, 1972 football game against a high school from a different. In the third quarter of the game, Cannon, a 17-year-old star running back and captain of the team was injured in a last helmet-to-helmet crash that resulted in 15 yards of penalty. The impact was fatal, and Cannon passed away from a brain hemorrhage in the Carraway Methodist Hospital in Birmingham and never regained consciousness.
51 years ago to the day of his last run the football team, cheerleaders, and band members of the JHS Class in 1973 announced their plans to create an award in his honor on the campus of Jacksonville State University.reflects their unwavering commitment to honouring Cannon’s legacy. In the fall of 2024 The award will be given annually to students who is from Calhoun County who maintains a 2.5 GPA. There will be an emphasis on African-American candidates.
“People must remember. This is an example of a legacy. It’s not necessary to allow things like this to go unnoticed,” emphasized Baker-King, who played an integral role in the promotion of the award. The creation of the scholarship is in line with Cannon’s role as a symbol of change. He grew in the predominantly black community of Eastwood and becoming a part of the reintegration process at Kitty Stone Elementary School in 1965.
Pam Baker-King, who lives within Cedartown, Georgia, recalls Cannon’s calm and peaceful manner during difficult times. “It’s similar to the way you can tell that Dr. King was non-violent, Speedy was just like him, as well,” she shared. “A many times Speedy would pull me away and instruct me to shut my mouth. He spoke very softly. I don’t believe I’ve ever heard him speak.”
The award is an ode to not just Cannon’s athletic abilities, but as well in his personal qualities and huge impact he made on those who were around him. Famous for his extraordinary speed Cannon’s athletic prowess was already drawing the attention of college football scouts, but his dream was tragically put to rest.
Many participants of the JHS Class 1973, including Dee Salls, who was playing on the night of the incident, signed up at JSU after graduation. Baker King, Salls along with his wife Becky graduated with degrees in education. Salls when reflecting on the significance of the award said “A number of scholarships have been mentioned but not followed through with. It was imperative to establish this so that Pam’s name and his name – will be preserved for ever.”
To donate towards the Anthony “Speedy” Cannon Endowed Memorial Scholarship people can go to JSU’s donation page and click “Make an Online Gift” select “Scholarship support” from the drop-down menu and then choose “Anthony Speedy Cannon Endowed Memorial Scholarship.” For more information or assistance, please contact Diane Winsor at 256-782-5603 or [email protected].
