Robert John “Bob” Shannon

Published 2:49 am Wednesday, June 11, 2003

March 30, 1931-June 9, 2003

HERMISTON – Recitation of the rosary for former Hermiston Police Chief Robert John “Bob” Shannon will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the chapel at Burns Mortuary of Hermiston. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church with burial at the Hermiston Cemetery. Disposition was by cremation.

Mr. Shannon, 72, of Hermiston, died Monday, June 9, 2003, at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Hermiston.

He was born March 30, 1931, at Wallace, Idaho, to Robert G. and Louise Arnold Shannon.

On June 16, 1951, he and his wife, Georgette E. Shannon, were married at Portland.

He served in the Army during the Korean War for two years then joined the Oregon State Police. He served as a state trooper in Pendleton and John Day for eight years, then joined the John Day Police Department where he was police chief for three years. He became the Hermiston Police Chief in 1969, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1991.

During his years as police chief, he wrote grants that brought the Hermiston Public Safety Center a law enforcement radio network system, the hospital emergency ambulance system, radar units, a microfilm system, a new juvenile center in Pendleton and more. He was responsible for giving Hermiston the first 9-1-1 system in eastern Oregon.

He was a past president of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, was appointed by the governor to three different state boards and task forces related to law enforcement and in 1971, he earned an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Blue Mountain Community College and later taught criminal justice courses there.

He helped found the Hermiston Christmas Express program and worked hard to build up support and funding for the program. For many years he served as driver of the Santa Bus, taking great delight in broadcasting the most ridiculous Christmas songs he could find over the loudspeaker all over town.

He was a member of the Hermiston Kiwanis Cub and served as chapter president and lieutenant governor.

Over the years, Mr. Shannon volunteered for many civic activities. He was a member of the Hermiston Volunteer Fire Department, was an American Red Cross chapter chairman, and a Red Cross water safety chairman. He regularly announced parades in Hermiston, Stanfield and Echo. He served with the Boy Scouts of America, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the local Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship program, the SAIL Spelling Bee and Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy program. The Armand Larive Junior High music program presents the Bob Shannon Award annually to the community member who volunteers the most to their program. Mr. Shannon was an active member of the Eagles Lodge and founder of the exclusive Minnehaha Men’s Club.

After retirement he served on the Umatilla County Vector Control Board of Trustees and was municipal court judge for Stanfield and Echo.

He was an active member of Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church. He sang in the church choir, was a parish financial data input person, kept the parish census current and served as a computer technician. He was a co-founder and organizer of the annual Pig Out fund-raiser. Mr. Shannon was a fourth-degree member of the Knights of Columbus and was the 15th District director.

Mr. Shannon was said to have dedicated his life to his family, his church, the law enforcement profession and the community. His work and his accomplishments touched thousands.

Survivors include his wife, Georgette, of Hermiston; sons, Robert Joseph Shannon of Umatilla, Michael in Germany and Mark in Nevada; daughters, Sharon Shannon of La Grande, Rosie Marcum, Cindy McIntyre, Susan Callahan, and Kathy Moore, all of Hermiston; sisters, Sharon Bierek of Philomath and Sally Shannon of Portland; 12 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church building Fund.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in charge of arrangements.