Carl Cannon earned a journalism degree from the University of Georgia in 1965 and joined Morris Communications in the advertising department of The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle. After serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to Morris and became advertising director of the Lubbock (Texas) Avalanche-Journal in 1972.

Ten years later, he was promoted to publisher of the Amarillo (Texas) Globe-News, and in 1986 became Western group manager of Morris newspapers.

In 1990, he became publisher of The Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. He also was executive vice president of Morris Communications Company and Morris Publishing Group.

Carl is a former president of the Jacksonville Symphony, Gator Bowl Association, YMCA and the Jacksonville Zoo, and a former chairman of the Florida Press Association. The Association of Fundraising Professionals honored him for his work as capital campaign chairman for both the zoo and the YMCA of Florida’s First Coast.

He is credited with playing a major role in bringing an NFL expansion team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Super Bowl XXXIX to the city.