Larry Carlson, Dan Adams, Jay Arnold, and Billy Dale combined their memories to celebrate Bruce Cannon’s life.

In 1972 the Longhorns had an impressive record of 10-1, ranking 3rd in the final AP poll. Coached by DKR Texas won the SWC and the Cotton Bowl against Alabama 17-13.

On my recruiting trip to Austin, I was lucky enough to draw Bruce as my host.
We had quite a bit in common, coming from smaller high schools in Texas and playing the same position.
We continued our friendship when I got to Austin (fall 71). 
Bruce was an amazing athlete, extremely strong and flexible (played handball in his off time) and a wonderful sense of humor. 
Prayers for his family and loved ones.  He was a good guy!

Garry Smith

Article below was written by Larry Carlson for TLSN

 Bruce Cannon, a key player in the Texas Longhorns defense for Coach Darrell Royal’s last three Southwest Conference championship teams, has died. He played at UT from 1971-73.

Cannon, who starred for the class 2A Randolph (AFB) Ro-Hawks of Universal City, just north of San Antonio, played rover and linebacker for the stellar Longhorn units molded by defensive guru Mike Campbell.  One of Cannon’s most memorable performances came in the ’73 Cotton Bowl victory over Alabama.  In that 17-13 UT triumph, Cannon was in on ten tackles, second only to teammate Randy Braband, the game’s Defensive MVP.  That season, Cannon had two interceptions and raked in two fumbles.

 Cannon was one of three San Antonio-area UT players on that aforementioned Cotton Bowl championship team.  Former All-State and All-South linebacker Greg Dahlberg of Lee and OG-turned-TE Julius Whittier, from Highlands High, joined Cannon and Coach Royal in a publicity photo that was seen frequently on The Longhorn Network in recent years, as part of a tribute to Whittier, UT’s first Black football letterman.

Many years after the burnt orange football deeds of the San Antonio trio, the photo accompanied a story about Whittier on the front page of the San Antonio Express-News.  All three of the former teammates had done well after receiving their UT diplomas.  Whittier then worked as a prosecutor for the Dallas County Attorney’s office.  Cannon had returned to his high school alma mater and served as a coach, administrator and then principal at Randolph in a 33-year-span. 

At the time, Dahlberg, a friend of mine and a dentist in the Alamo City, joked that he was feverishly phoning his friends.  “I’m on the front page,” Greg laughed. 

Sadly, all 4 in this photo are now all gone.   Dahlberg died in 2017 and Whittier passed away in 2018, Cannon in 2024, Royal in 2012 and Dahlberg in 2017. All 4 passed away with either Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or CTE.

I was in the defensive groups with Bruce Cannon for two or three years. He was a consistently good player, a hard worker, and a dependable teammate both on and off the field. I send my best regards to his family and friends. Stan Mauldin

Sat 7/6/2024 10:37 AM

Billy, this really hits me hard.  Bruce was the JV basketball coach at Randolph when I held the same position at LaVernia, and we played nearly every year.  They beat us unmercifully every time.  He had better athletes with more skill than mine, but it didn’t matter.  I’m sure that if he had had mine and I had his, they would have beaten us anyway because he was just a much better coach than I was.  He was very fit, and when we talked after the game, he would tell me about riding his bicycle to Blanco and back on the weekends.  He was very humble and never talked about his playing days, even though I would have enjoyed hearing about them.  I love football, but it has exacted a terrible price from so many of you who played the game at the highest levels.

Larry Bob Moore

Bruce Cannon dedicated nearly 33 years to the Randolph Field Independent School District (RFISD). His journey at Randolph began after leaving U.T. in 1978, where he served as a teacher, coach, and administrator. Cannon’s sentiment about Randloph never changed. When asked Bruce would always say “There’s no place like Randolph.

  PCA Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA), also known as Benson’s syndrome, is a rare form of dementia. It is considered a visual variant or an atypical variant of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

RoHawks

Wanted to share that Mr. Cannon (coach to many of you) passed away.

He always was a humble and gracious man. And as my boss, always kept me on my toes. It was several years working under him before I learned that he was this big UT football star under Coach Royal.  And when I asked him about it. All he said, “It’s just something I did when I was younger”. He was the type of boss that when he spoke, we listened. It’s the only job I can say I didn’t often miss work because it was such a a good environment to be at.  I think he sent me home for having pink eye. He and coach Wesp were two of the biggest backers and prayer warriors when we decided to become foster/adopt parents.

But he had a prankster side also. I was not a bus driver, but did drive “the trainer suburban” to take my students to games. One year, he casually mentioned that he placed me on the alternate list for the bus/coach drug test list. So as the alternate… I was drug tested 4 times that year, pretty much every time they came to campus. He thought it was funny.

Mr. Cannon encouraged me to be an avid reader, to back up what I say & say what I mean, and wholeheartedly supported me and my athletic training program when most 2A schools didn’t have an AT. He was a man of devout faith and demonstrated it with his actions and relationships with his family and faculty & staff.

Over the years I’ve gotten to know and love the rest of his family and I cherish these friendships so much.

Our loss is Heaven’s gain.

Doc-Nydia Cabra

Sirk Nosdod

I’m class of 89 and truly love reading all the memories and stories from such a wide range of times for all of you who attended or played sports at RHS! Thank you for sharing so many memories, especially of this high-value man and mentor to so many of us …

Vance Duncan

Very sad. It’s hard to believe Greg has been gone 7 years.

Michael Sullivan

I knew Bruce very well as a friend, fellow coach at SA MacArthur and later as a high school principal at Randolph High School. May he and his family be blessed and may he rest in peace. He was good friend and genuinely a great person.

Deborah Steeves

Bruce and I were classmates at Randolph and then I got to see him play when we were at UT together- I loved that he returned to RHS –

Saddened to hear this news

Prayers for comfort

• Harold Croxton

Best all around athlete I ever met. Also a great person.

Kelle McGlothan

Condolences to Coach Cannon’s family! Coach was the best Coach I ever had! RIP coach!

Brian Harris

I’m proud that I was a student while Coach/Principal Cannon was at Randolph. Rest in peace sir

Danan Grace

He was my coach, and middle school and high school principal. Prayers and Condolences to his Family!!!RIP

Rochelle Jefferson

I remember Principal Cannon this is very sad news.. My deepest condolences

 Bill Osborne

That’s very sad to hear. I played with Bruce on Randolph’s ‘67 (state finals) and ‘68 (quarter finals) teams. He was a sophomore and junior on those teams but still a real leader. He was a captain in ‘68, I believe. A life well lived!

Bill Glebus

I was at that Cotton Bowl game, legendry,Bear Bryant vs Royall w Asst Emery Bellard, creator of the wishbone, even an Aggie could enjoy that match up, Happy 4th

Laura Cannon Collins

Thank you for the great write-up and sharing the memories