Chris Cannon
Christopher Black Cannon was born in Salt Lake City on October 20, 1950. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree and a law degree from Brigham Young University, he worked in Provo as an attorney for four years.
Congressman Cannon married Claudia Ann Fox in 1978. Claudia is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education. She served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spain and Rep. Cannon served as a missionary in Guatemala and El Salvador. They have eight children: Rachel, Jane, Laura, Emily, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Matthew, and Katherine. The family reside in Mapleton, Utah.
In 1983, the Congressman was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the lawyer in charge of coal-mining reclamation, enforcement and writing the current regulatory scheme.
In 1986, Cannon worked as a consultant to the Assistant Secretary for Productivity, Technology and Innovation at the Department of Commerce. In 1987, Chris with his brother, Joe, helped purchase and reopen Geneva Steel in Orem, Utah, restoring 2,500 steel-worker jobs. In 1990, Chris purchased Geneva's new venture division, now called Cannon Industries, Inc.
Chris has served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1992 and 1996. In the 1996 election, Chris was one of the five presidential electors.
Chris Cannon was elected to Congress on November 5, 1996.
In January 2003, Congressman Cannon was elected chairman of the influential Western Caucus, an organization of over 50 Congressmen leading the debate for rational, balanced and sound resource management.
