H. Brown Cannon was a pioneer dairyman and civic leader. He founded Windsor Farm Dairy and was a county commissioner appointed by Mayor Robert W. Speer. His real estate holdings included the land upon which Stapleton International Airport was built, today’s Stapleton community and the Windsor Gardens retirement community. The dairy building built in 1918 still stands in lower downtown. Mr. Cannon, became a Director of Beatrice Foods after the company purchased Windsor Farm Dairy in 1928. The dairy business became known as Meadow Gold, the largest commercial dairy in Colorado at that time. His civic activities included spearheading the drive for the original Denver Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition, H. Brown Cannon was a founder of Presbyterian Hospital, president of the Denver Rotary Club, and chairman of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church.
H. Brown Cannon’s two sons, Brown W. and his younger brother George, both graduated from Stanford University; Brown would earn an MBA from Harvard. Both men served as U.S. Navy Lieutenants during WWII. After the war, Brown W. Cannon and George R. Cannon returned to Denver to become civic leaders and successful businessmen.
As Senior Vice President of Beatrice Foods, Brown W. Cannon directed all of the overseas chemical and manufacturing operations, helping to grow the company to an international giant. He was about to be named the next president of Beatrice Foods when he discovered he had cancer.
George R. Cannon was a major player in the trucking industry. He was president of Gallagher Freightways, which he sold to Consolidated Freightways. He later was president of Bonanza Truck lines and Motor Cargo. With partners, he formed Flexivan Corporation and took it to the New York Stock Exchange.
Both Cannon brothers were active in civic affairs. Brown W. Cannon helped start the Colorado Outward Bound School and was a director of numerous civic organizations including: the United Bank of Denver, Public Service Company of Colorado, Mountain States Employer’s Council, and the Colorado Board of Higher Education. George R. Cannon was president of the Board of Trustees of Kent School when the Board created the new campus on Quincy Street. He also served on the Board of Directors for the United Banks of Colorado for 14 years, Sierra Pacific Airlines, and the Board of Directors of Children's Hospital.
The Cannons never forgot their agricultural heritage, operating several farms and ranches and winning the Fed Beef Contest at the National Western Stock Show three years in a row.
H. Brown Cannon’s two sons, Brown W. and his younger brother George, both graduated from Stanford University; Brown would earn an MBA from Harvard. Both men served as U.S. Navy Lieutenants during WWII. After the war, Brown W. Cannon and George R. Cannon returned to Denver to become civic leaders and successful businessmen.
As Senior Vice President of Beatrice Foods, Brown W. Cannon directed all of the overseas chemical and manufacturing operations, helping to grow the company to an international giant. He was about to be named the next president of Beatrice Foods when he discovered he had cancer.
George R. Cannon was a major player in the trucking industry. He was president of Gallagher Freightways, which he sold to Consolidated Freightways. He later was president of Bonanza Truck lines and Motor Cargo. With partners, he formed Flexivan Corporation and took it to the New York Stock Exchange.
Both Cannon brothers were active in civic affairs. Brown W. Cannon helped start the Colorado Outward Bound School and was a director of numerous civic organizations including: the United Bank of Denver, Public Service Company of Colorado, Mountain States Employer’s Council, and the Colorado Board of Higher Education. George R. Cannon was president of the Board of Trustees of Kent School when the Board created the new campus on Quincy Street. He also served on the Board of Directors for the United Banks of Colorado for 14 years, Sierra Pacific Airlines, and the Board of Directors of Children's Hospital.
The Cannons never forgot their agricultural heritage, operating several farms and ranches and winning the Fed Beef Contest at the National Western Stock Show three years in a row.
