Remembering Cannon High
Classes of ’41 and ’42 share fond memories as they dedicate marker

It amazes me when I get to cover events like the one that took place Saturday at A.L. Brown High School.
The J.W. Cannon classes of 1941 and 1942 dedicated a marker at the school — near the tennis courts — to the old high school, which was there for what seems like ages to all the people in Kannapolis who went to the school.
Members of the classes of 1941 and 1942 gathered at the marker to dedicate the ground, hugging one another and telling stories about when they were in school.
The president of the 1942 class, Sarah Weaver, who offered the prayer for the morning, told of remembering the giggles and even belly-laughs that took place in those hallowed halls. She called high school “one of the most joyous times of our lives.”
I don’t remember high school quite that fondly — I can think of many things more joyous than state-mandated exams and the attitudes of many of my classmates — but I’m glad there are folks out there who do remember high school that way.
Mayor Bob Misenheimer, who didn’t go to J.W. Cannon High School, also spoke fondly of the school.
“I remember back when we were growing up, one of the things we looked forward to down in Concord was seeing the J.W. Cannon Band,” Misenheimer told the group on Saturday morning.
I can relate to that. I had friends in the band at West Rowan High School, and while not as fancy and great as I imagine the J.W. Cannon Band was, it was still pretty cool to hear those instruments playing at football games, graduations and pretty much every other event at the school.
Misenheimer recalled doing his student teaching at the high school in 1957, which was Cannon Junior High by that time.
“This place brings back a lot of memories,” he said.
One of the things that I look forward to as I prepare to become even older — 30 is ancient to my nieces, I’m sure — is going back for my 20th and beyond reunions.
My class recently celebrated our 10th year reunion, so I’ve got a ways to go before we celebrate that 20-year mark and many more before we can all get together for our 65th reunion or more, as many of those folks on Saturday can brag.
But when we finally get to that mark, we will be able to do something that no other class can.
I was a member of the only class to graduate from West Rowan High School having attended both West Rowan Junior High School and West Rowan Middle School. The middle school was being built when I was in 7th grade, my first year out of elementary school. Then, when I was in 8th grade, we left the junior high school behind and added 6th grade to the lower classes.
Near the end of the year, we students contributed items to a time capsule that we dedicated. At that 20-year mark, I believe we’re going to open it. I can’t wait to find out what I put in there. I really can’t remember.
Joanie Morris is editor of the Kannapolis Citizen. She can be reached at 704-932-3336 or jmorris@kannapoliscitizen.com.