Gerald N. Cannon

Joe Buchtinec and Gerald Cannon @ St Andrews

 This website is dedicated to the memory of a beloved Father, Husband, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle, Great Grandfather and Great Uncle Gerald Newcomb Cannon.

Gerald N. Cannon's love of golf is undisputed since he started with a job watering the greens at the University of Iowa's Finkbine course, carried through three-sport pursuits at Iowa City High School and Kenyon College, on to Towlift, Inc., where he was founder and president.

 At City High, Gerri's little Hawks achieved championships among the most impressive in the state's history. Iowa City was undefeated in football in 1946, and Gerri paired as a starting end with Bill Reichardt, later the Big Ten's most valuable player as an Iowa running back. On the football field Gerri's nose was broken so often, "Dr. Lierle, a friend of my parents, told my dad that he couldn't help Gerri if he broke it again." Gerri was a basketball reserve on the team that won the 1946 state championship with a one-point victory as Bobby Freeman sank three field goals in the last 55 seconds. Despite all the excitement, Gerri's strongest sport was golf. He had the lowest individual score as Iowa City won the Mississippi Valley Conference Championship in 1947.

Before going off to Kenyon, Gerri place second in Iowa's first state-wide junior golf tournament. He lost the final in a tight match after belting his first drive out of bounds and his second into a water hazard. "Gerri loved everything about golf," Carol adds.

"His job watering the Finkbine greens had crazy hours but paid well." At Kenyon, Gerri earned letters in football, basketball and golf. He was president of his junior and senior classes, sports editor of the Collegian and editor of Reville. He majored in political science.

Though continuing golf through his 53 years after high school, Gerri still had even more time for Towlift, full-service material-handling dealership, his wife Mary Alice, and children Beth, Skip and John. Towlift has offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Clyde, Mentor and Toledo, Ohio. Gerri was recognized 13 years as Caterpillar Lift Truck Dealer of the year.