The Marion and Mills Families. From left, Grant Mills, Betty Marion, Randy Marion Sr., Alexandria Mills, Vanessa Marion, Grey Mills III, Jennifer Mills, Grey Mills Jr., Victoria Marion, Melanie Marion, Randy Marion II, and Randy Marion III.
Betty and Randy Marion Sr. and Family Name New Athletic Field House Marion Family makes $500,000 leadership gift in honor of grandchildren. Cannon School is pleased to announce that Betty and Randy Marion Sr. and Family have pledged a leadership gift of $500,000 to name the new Randy Marion Family Field House as part of the $7 million Building Bright Futures Campaign. When we asked the Marion family what inspired this transformational gift, they explained that their commitment to Cannon School is a family tradition. Cannon School has been a big part of the Marions’ lives for ten years now, ever since their first grandchild, Alexandria Mills ’17, began junior kindergarten in 2003. “After Alexandria started at Cannon, we just couldn’t imagine our grandchildren going to any other school,” explained Betty Marion. And that’s not just lip service, because Betty and Randy Marion Sr. currently have five grandchildren attending Cannon and a sixth grandchild who looks forward to joining the family tradition next year. Randy Marion Sr. added, “We know that each one of our grandchildren is not only receiving a top-notch education that will prepare them for the world, but they’re witnessing firsthand Cannon’s core values that will help them make wise decisions in the future. Cannon is a special place. We hope our gift will help in some way keep it special.” If you ask any of the Marions and Mills how they feel about their commitment to the campaign, you’ll find that they want to tell you more about what Cannon School has given to their families than about the exciting gift that they have given to Cannon. “I will never forget the good feeling from the very first time I visited Cannon as a prospective new parent,” said Jennifer Mills, parent of Alexandria Mills ’17, Grey Mills III ’20, and Grant Mills ’24. “I knew then that Cannon was the place for us—not just for my children, but also for me and my husband, Grey. What makes Cannon special is its 8 | CANNON MAGAZINE
people. From Head of School Matt Gossage, to the faculty and staff, Cannon is blessed with great folks who do an outstanding job.” Randy Marion II, parent of Randy Marion III ’23 and Vanessa Marion ’25, shared, “Choosing Cannon was not an easy choice for me and my wife, Melanie. The commute from Mooresville to Concord weighed heavily on our decision. The public schools in our area were good, but Melanie and I knew the importance of a great education for our children, and we made a commitment to provide them with the best education possible.” After we insisted that the Cannon community would want to hear more about what inspired their naming of the Randy Marion Family Field House, Randy Marion Sr. explained, “Athletics are a big part of any school, and student-athletes learn so many lessons through competition. Whether we’re on or off the field, all of us in the Cannon family—students, parents, and grandparents—play a role in showing our Cannon pride at sporting events. We hope that everyone in the Cannon family will have an even better experience at sporting events once the new athletic field house is a reality.” Betty Marion added, “We feel excited to play our part and to give this gift in honor of our grandchildren.” Cannon School competes in a conference with the Charlotte region’s top independent schools, and the Randy Marion Family Field House will provide a permanent facility that welcomes both Cannon families and the community around us to experience the excitement of Cannon athletics. We are grateful to Betty and Randy Marion Sr. and Family for this meaningful gift that will enhance campus vibrancy for generations of Cannon families to come.