Prominent cricketer, sports administrator and business executive John B (Sam) Gannon has passed away at the age of 73.
Prominent cricketer, sports administrator and business executive John B (Sam) Gannon has passed away at the age of 73.
Sam Gannon was a left-arm fast bowler who played in 37 Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia between 1966 and 1979, along with three Tests for Australia from 1977 to 1978.
He was member of the 1967-68 WA Sheffield Shield winning team.
Following his career on the field, Mr Gannon joined the WACA board where he served as vice-president and deputy chair from 2004 to 2013 and chair from 2013 to 2015.
He was also a director on the Cricket Australia board.
Mr Gannon was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2017 for his service to cricket.
In the community, Mr Gannon was a board member on the Wally Foreman Foundation, which provides financial assistance to young athletes, and chair of the Paraplegic Benefit Fund Australia.
In the business sector, he was the co-founder and chair of financial planning firm Gannon Growden Schonell.
His co-directors included test cricketer Craig Serjeant.
GGS became part of Shadforth Financial Group in 2009.
Shadforth merged with ASX-listed Snowball Group to become SFG Australia, which was subsequently acquired by IOOF Australia in 2014.
His stake in SFG was valued at about $30 million at the time of the acquisition.
The Perth Scorchers will be wearing black armbands to honour Mr Gannon in their Big Bash League Final tomorrow night at the SCG.
Western Australian Cricket Association chair Tuck Waldron said the board, management, staff and players of the WACA were very saddened with his passing.
“Sam has made an outstanding contribution to cricket in WA, during his time as a player, vice-president and chair of the board,” Mr Waldron said.
“Having served on the WACA board for more than a decade, Sam was committed to ensuring the continued success of the WACA and was dedicated to growing cricket in WA.
“On behalf of everyone at the WACA and the WA cricket community we send our deepest sympathies to his family and closest friends.”
Criket Australia chair Earl Eddings also paid his respects to Mr Gannon.
"Australian and WA cricket has lost one of its great leaders in Sam Gannon and, on behalf of everyone at Cricket Australia, we send our sincere condolences to Sam's family and friends," Mr Eddings said.
"As a deft left-arm quick, a giant of the business community, a leader of charitable causes and a brilliant cricket administrator, Sam was known and loved across Australia and particularly in his home state of WA, where his positive impact on the community will be felt for many generations to come.
"As the Perth Scorchers take the field tonight wearing black armbands in Sam's memory, we should all take a moment to reflect on his enormous contribution to our great game."
By the time of his retirement as a player during the 1978-79 season, Mr Gannon had claimed 117 wickets across 40 first-class games and formed part of three successful Sheffield Shield-winning squads during a golden era of Western Australian cricket.
