This video titled, “Jo Watts Williams Interview on Isabella Cannon,” was recorded in the Iris Holt McEwen School of Communications classroom on September 18, 2006. Williams’s friendship began when Williams visited relatives in Elon where she met Isabella Cannon. Isabella Cannon was a student at Elon College in the 1920s and 1930s (Cannon was born Isabella McLean Bett Walton -daughter of Helen Bett Seamans and James Walton- on May 12, 1904). After her husband, Claude M. Cannon, joined the United Stated Foreign Service, Williams lost track of Cannon for a period of time until she returned to Raleigh, North Carolina. Claude M. Cannon passed away in 1954 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Williams was asked to recall Cannon memories. Williams stated, Cannon was always energetic and determined. Williams spoke of the Cannon’s favorite story of when she worked in the Elon’s bank and the bank was robbed. The robber locked Cannon in the bank vault. Cannon was so compassionate that she said of the robber, “He needed the funds.” Cannon always looked for the good in people, although, she could be tough at times. Williams spoke of how Cannon came to the United States from Scotland with her family. Her father was a textile designer for Cannon Mills (The Cannon Mills Company was an American textile company founded by James William Cannon, based in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The mill was founded in 1888 and went bankrupt in July 2003). There was no relationship between Cannon’s father and Mr. Charlie Cannon. The first gift made to Elon College from Isabella Cannon was titled “The Isabella Cannon Room” in the Center for the Arts. Cannon stated, “Jo, you can never call this room the Cannon Room. You must always call it the Isabella Cannon Room because everyone would think the room was given by Cannon Mills.” Cannon attended the local public schools in North Carolina as she was growing up. Upon graduation from high school, Cannon was awarded a scholarship from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina and instead attended Elon College. Cannon’s mother told Isabella that she was not attending Duke because there were “goings ons” at Duke and not at Elon. Cannon entered Elon College in the early 1920s and the legacy began. Cannon attended Elon College during the Great Depression (1929 – late 1930s) and added so much energy to the campus. Williams described Cannon as a person with leadership and had an ability to rally to any cause. Cannon was married to Claude M. Cannon (an Elon Alumnus) in 1924. The Belk Library holds most of Isabella Cannon’s papers and letters. After Isabella Cannon’s husband passed away, there was no pension from the United States Foreign Service. So Isabella Cannon was left to her wits on how she was going to survive in Raleigh, North Carolina. Cannon sold their Raleigh home and purchased a little cottage at the North Carolina State University campus and lived there until her death. Isabella Cannon worked for North Carolina State University in the library. The best example that Cannon left to display was her energy and leadership skills. Cannon defeated the incumbent Mayor, Jyles Coggins in 1977. Cannon was the first woman mayor in any major Unites States city. She ran on the ticket as the “The little old lady in tennis shoes (Democratic: 1977-1979).” People gave her tennis shoes as part of her campaign. As a token of appreciation, Cannon would give people “Little Cannons.” She also, gave Elon College Leadership Fellows “Little Cannons, too (upon graduation).” Cannon invested her financial assets until she had accumulated the resources to give to Elon. Also, Cannon was very active in the Raleigh little theatre on stage in her 60’s. Cannon’s activism was acting locally at her heart. Throughout the years, Cannon became more active in her aging years through her papers. Jo Watts Williams went through her papers with Cannon which gave a lot of insight into her personality and her drive (Elon University Archives holds the Cannon’s papers). Willams spoke of Cannon’s resources and acting upon one of her gifts called the Elon Leadership program. Her final gift to Elon was the Isabella Cannon Pavilion for International Studies. Jo Watts Williams discussed her television interview with Bryant Gumbel. Williams’s spoke of Cannon’s passing. Cannon had a fall in her little cottage and was taken to the hospital. She passed away on Valentine’s Eve (February 13, 2002). Cannon had every detail spelled out for her funeral service. Cannon received a state funeral because she was a former mayor. Cannon’s outlook on life was played at her funeral service with a recording by Louis Armstrong “It is a Wonderful World.” Dr. Leo M. Lambert was Cannon’s eulogist for the Cannon’s funeral. Cannon’s final resting place is at Claremont, North Carolina beside her husband, Claude M. Cannon.