Meet Chas Cannon

Born and raised in Moultrie, living in a family home that spans four generations, Charles H. “Chas” Cannon is proudly carrying on the forestry and timber business started by his great-great grandfather in 1912. A graduate of Colquitt County High, Chas played football as a member of the Army Black Knights at West Point, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in June 2001 before joining the Field Artillery branch of the U.S. Army in Fort Sill, OK. Just three months after Chas’ arrival in Oklahoma as a brand new 2nd Lieutenant, the United States endured what would be the worst terror attack in history on September 11, 2001.

Following his Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Chas began making preparations to depart for his first duty station at Fort Richardson in Anchorage, AK. A few weeks prior to his planned transfer to Anchorage, Chas’ father was tragically killed in a car wreck, which also left his mother badly injured. Chas was able to amend his orders from Fort Richardson to Fort Benning, GA in order to be closer to home and his mother and sister. On top of his military obligations, he was also suddenly immersed in the family business and found himself responsible for the family’s day-to-day farming operation. 

Soon after his transfer to Fort Benning in early 2003, Chas was deployed to Iraq with the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division as part of the initial ground invasion by U.S. troops into Iraq, fighting in all major battles from southern Iraq into Baghdad.  During a short leave from deployment, Chas reconnected with his high school girlfriend, Beth and they were married by the end of 2004.  He was then deployed to Iraq once again for 12 months during the first Iraqi elections, stationed in Ramadi which was the center of the very violent insurgency.  Finally, in 2007, Chas’ 3rd Brigade was once again called into action by President Bush, serving as part of the “surge” in 2007-2008. Chas’ final deployment lasted 15 months.

After returning from Iraq in 2008, Chas and Beth moved to Washington, DC where Chas served as an Army Congressional Fellow. Here, he was granted top secret clearance as a liaison to Capitol Hill promoting the Army Budget within the House and Senate Defense Appropriations Committees. During their time in DC, Beth and Chas started their family, welcoming two daughters Catherine and Allie. 

Chas then left active duty and joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 2014, returning to Moultrie to raise his family and be closer to the farm that he was continuing to manage from afar. Shortly after his return, he took on the role of County Administrator. As Chief Executive of the County, Chas has leveraged his Army leadership and management experience to reorganize and modernize county government operations with a focus on efficient, transparent and honest stewardship of local tax dollars. 

Chas continues to run the day-to-day family farm operations, from long-range planning to performing manual labor, as well as managing timber and crop leases and equipment. He also started a small pine straw raking business in 2019, which continues to grow both locally and regionally.

Recognized as a High Potential Leader by the University of Georgia Archway Partnership Program, Chas is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Colquitt and a 2015 graduate & 2022 Agriculture Program Chair of Leadership Georgia. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Georgia Forestry Association, a member of the Forest Landowners Association, the Longleaf Alliance, Georgia Farm Bureau, Tall Timbers Advancement Committee, and serves as Vice President of the Colquitt Regional Medical Center Foundation Board. He is also an ex-officio member of the Parks & Recreation Authority, the Airport Authority, and the Economic Development Authority. He is a past Board member of the Boys and Girls Club. Finally, Chas is a member of Rotary, the local Volunteer Arts Alliance, the Congressional Sporting Society based in Washington, DC, and he also chairs a number of local annual non-profit events. Chas is also a lifelong hunter and an avid outdoorsman.

The Cannon family is deeply involved in their community.  Beth serves on a number of nonprofit boards and their daughters are both active in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and horse riding. The family are active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Moultrie, where Chas has served as a Deacon and Elder as well as serving on the Pastoral Search Committee.