Kappa Journal Post-Conclave Issue (Fall 2017)

TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE

Col. John W. Shannon, Sr. United States Army, Retired 1933–2017 Former Acting United States Secretary of the Army By Earl T. Tildon

C ol. John W. Shannon, Sr., (U. S. Army Ret.) transitioned to Chapter Invisible March 17, 2017. Brother Shannon was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, where he was born September 13, 1933. He was educated at Central State Uni- versity, graduating with a B.S. in 1955. He was initiated December 13, 1952 into the Delta Zeta of Kappa Alpha Psi ® at Central State University. After college, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry of the United States Army. In the Army, he served as a commander and staff offi- cer. During the Vietnam War, he served two tours of duty in South Vietnam as a military advisor and battalion com- mander. From 1972 to 1974, he served as a congressional liaison officer in the Office of the Secretary of the Army. Brother Shannon received an M.S. de- gree from Shippensburg State College in 1975. He retired from the United

States Army in 1978, having attained the rank of Colonel. Upon leaving the Army, Shannon became Special Assistant for Man- power, Reserve Affairs and Logistics to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs. From June 1981 to December 1984, he was Deputy Under Secretary of the Army. In 1984, President of the United States Ronald Reagan nominated Shan- non as Assistant Secretary of the Army and he subsequently held this office from December 7, 1984 to 13 August 1989. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush nominated Shannon as United States Under Secretary of the Army and he subsequently held this office from August 14, 1989 until November 23, 1993. He was Acting United States Secretary of the Army from January 20, 1993 until August 26, 1993. Shannon later operated his own firm, Shannon Consulting Services.

He was presented an honorary degree from Central State University during the tenure of Arthur E. Thomas, Ed.D, Presi- dent, Central State University, who said: “Secretary Shannon provided phenomenal support to CSU and to all HBCUs. He sent me on many missions to interact with our soldiers and to advise him on prob- lems related to racism and discrimination. I will be eternally grateful and indebted to him for his friendship, support, trust, loy- alty, advice, time, patience and tolerance.” Brother Shannon was married to the former Jean Miller, who died a day after Brother Shannon; they were preceded in death by their son, John Shannon, Jr. and their sisters, Nettie and Roberta. They are survived by brother-in-law, Eugene; nieces, Gina, Susan, Florence and Clau- dette; one nephew, John; and daughter-in- law, Theresa. Brother Shannon rests from his labor in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

228 |  FALL 2017  THE JOURNAL

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