John Meeks Shannon

October 12, 1931 - March 4, 2015

John, son of Cleo Almyra Olive and John Edwin Shannon, was born in Pampa, Texas on October 12, 1931. He lived in and attended schools in numerous towns in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, graduating from high school in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1950. His early interest in directing music led to his directing a church instrumental group at age 14. During his school years, John always played clarinet in the bands, many of which won local and state

competitions. He eventually learned to play oboe and English horn. He was a Boy Scout for most of his pre-college years, maintained a stamp collection and was always interested in rocks and minerals.

In 1949, he met Geraldine Collins at All State Band as a senior in high school. John and Gerry married in 1953 in Elizabeth, Louisiana. He attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 1955, choosing the oboe and English horn as his instruments of specialty. He was a charter member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity. He was also a member of a Dixieland band and the orchestra for performances of “The Messiah” and other college productions. John’s first job was as a band director in Merryville, Louisiana.

In 1955, John was stationed at 5th Army Headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. John and Gerry’s first daughter, Vina, was born in 1956 in Chicago. John and his family moved to DeQuincy, Louisiana in 1957, after his military service, where he was high school band director at DeQuincy High School. John and Gerry’s second daughter, Nancy Kathleen, was born in 1959 in DeQuincy. After moving to Oakdale, Louisiana, John directed the high school band there for

several years. John received a Master of Music Education Degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1962. John’s next job was band director at Sterling High School in Sterling, Colorado in 1963.

After moving to the Denver area in the mid 1960s, John directed bands at Huron Jr. High School and Northglenn High School, as well as directing the chancel and youth choirs at Northglenn United Methodist Church for a number of years. He continued his education at the University of Colorado at Boulder, receiving a Master of Basic Science Degree in 1975. In 1977, after moving to the Lakewood area, John directed the church chancel choir, the youth choir and the bell choir as a member of the Green Mountain United Methodist church for many years. John accepted a position as Director of the Colorado School of Mines Museum in 1977, and also taught Geology courses there (as well as being a part time matchmaker!). He directed the School of Mines Orediggers Band, who marched in plaid shirts, blue jeans, hard hats and mining boots. He was instrumental (HA!!) in the band members obtaining a small number of

credit hours for their participation and hard work, which up to that time had been a voluntary activity. In the late 1980s, John was curator of the National Mining Hall of Fame in Leadville, Colorado, and was very instrumental in building and transforming the museum to what it is today.

John was a member of the Denver Chapter of the Explorer’s Club and played with the Denver Pops Orchestra and the Mostly Strauss Orchestra for several years, where he served as associate conductor and board president. John was involved in starting a couple of different businesses during his years in the Denver area. In the early 1970s, John and his father organized Gas Development Enterprises, which later became Industrial Gas Services, a gas consulting firm.

John and Gerry started Irish Rovers in the late 1980s, a business that specialized in mineral specimens, mining artifacts and brass scientific instruments. The main focus of the business was gold and silver assay balances, especially those made in Denver. John especially enjoyed restoring old balances to

their former glory. The cover photograph of the May/June 1985 issue of Mineralogical Record magazine shows some of his personal collection. From 1991 to the late 1990s, John was show manager for the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (Executive Inn show) and was a dealer at the Denver Gem and Mineral Show (Holiday Inn). In 1999, John and Gerry wrote a book on assay balances entitled “The Assay Balance, Its Evolution and the Histories of the Companies That Made Them”, which has been cited as an expert reference by many sources including Sotheby’s. In the course of work in their business, they visited Germany, Italy, England, Colombia, Mexico and Canada. John was extremely proud of his Irish heritage, and he and Gerry very much enjoyed their visit to Ireland.

In his retirement he enjoyed playing with various musical groups and working with his fine mineral collection. He was a respected member of the music education and geological communities. He was a strong believer in music education as a means to enhance young lives and we hope that his legacy will continue through those whose lives he touched.

He is survived by his devoted wife Geraldine (Collins), daughters Vina (Mark) Bridge and Nancy Kathleen (Mark) Kalix, and grandson Collin Bridge. He was greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McNeese State University Alumni Association, 600 E. McNeese St., Lake Charles, LA 70607. Please note on the check - In Memory of John Meeks Shannon, Dedicated to the Music Department