Friends and family gathered Wednesday to remember and honor Don O. Concannon, 85, of Hugoton. Mr. Concannon passed from this life Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Beloit. [it-exchange-member-content membership_ids=”485,313″]
Don was born October 28, 1927 near Garden City, to Hugh Christopher Concannon and Margaret McKinley Concannon. He grew up on a farm 20 miles northeast of Garden City and attended Essex Country School until it closed when he was in the fifth grade. The family then moved into Garden City. He graduated from Garden City High School in 1945.
Mr. Concannon served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. After the Navy, he attended Garden City Junior College where he was instrumental in starting the football program. He graduated from Washburn Law School in 1952 and moved to Hugoton to begin the practice of law.
Don was elected Stevens County Attorney one month after arriving in Hugoton.
November 23, 1952, Don married Patricia June Davis. She preceded him in death February 25, 2001. He later married Sharon Collins September 1, 2002.
Mr. Concannon was a member of Kappa Sigma; Delta Theta Phi; Chairman – Kansas Young Republican Federation, 1959-61; Chairman – Kansas Presidential Electors, 1960; Chairman – Kansas State Republican Committee, 1968-70; County Attorney – Stevens County, 1953-57; City Attorney – Satanta, 1956-62; Hugoton Chamber of Commerce President – 1972; Chairman – Kansas Reagan for President Committee, 1976; Hardage for Governor, 1982; Chairman -Governor’s Task Force on Future of Rural Communities, 1986-88; Member – Kansas Commission Bicentennial of U.S. Constitution, 1986-89; Governor’s Highway Advisory Commission, 1965-66; President – Fortune Insurance Company, Inc., 1972-74; Chairman – Fortune Insurance Company, Inc., 1974; Board of Directors – Norton Bankshares, Inc., First State Bank, Norton, Kansas, State Bank of Satanta, Kansas and First National Bank, Attica, Kansas.
He was a member of the Southwest Kansas, Kansas, and American Bar Associations; Kansas Bar Association Committees: Selection, Tenure and Retirement of District Judges, 1965-76; Prospective Legislation, 1970-76; V.F.W.; American Legion; Hugoton Masonic Lodge; and Hugoton Chamber of Commerce.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Patricia; son Chris; his parents; and brothers, Herbert and L.O. ‘Sis’.
He is survived by his wife Sharon; son Craig and wife Susan; his daughter Debra Traster; daughter-in-law Barbara; his grandchildren, Jessica Concannon, Christina Concannon, Kelsy Harris and husband Larry, Taylor Concannon, Curtis Concannon and Tyler Concannon; twin great grandsons Carter and Burke Harris; his sisters-in-law, Wanda Concannon and Virginia Concannon; and his many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were attended Wednesday morning, March 13, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Hugoton with Reverend Harry Cross and Reverend Terry Worthington officiating. Interment followed in the Hugoton Cemetery directed by Roberts Brothers Funeral Home in Hooker, Ok.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Chris Concannon Memorial Scholarship Fund or Pheasant Heaven Charities. Memorials may be left at the Roberts Brothers Funeral Home, Box 745, Hooker, Ok. 73945. [/it-exchange-member-content]