1978-1979         

Rich was born on October 13, 1932, in Asheville, North Carolina. He finished high school in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he was blessed with two friends who would remain very important in his life—Stuart Angle and Carol Kretzler, who later became his wife. Rich graduated from Columbia Bible College in Columbia, South Carolina, and subsequently did graduate work at Wheaton College in Illinois, Westminster Seminary in Pennsylvania, the University of Oklahoma, and the School of Missionary Medicine at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles. 

Rich and Carol married in 1956, and from 1959 to 1963 they served as missionaries among the tribal peoples of Papua New Guinea along with daughter Kim. They returned from the field for health reasons and later adopted two other children, a son Kevin and a daughter Christina. In 1964 Rich accepted a call to pastor the Community Chapel in Philadelphia, PA. In 1966 Cannon accepted a position as administrator for The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM), headquartered in Wheaton, IL. There he recruited candidates for the mission field. 

The Cannons moved to French Camp from his pastorate in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, in 1977. Rich served as President of French Camp Academy for 26 years. The Lord blessed his ministry here with the vision for and building of WFCA radio station, the expansion of the Historical Area on the Natchez Trace, the program of Camp of the Rising Son, the construction of the Bed & Breakfast, the building of a new high school building and auditorium, and the building of four new dormitories. 

Rich served as stated supply at French Camp Presbyterian Church in 1978-1979.