Raymond D. Shannon

"A true C. & M.'er, 'Student Enterprise tickets in the corridor of Morrill Hall'."

A native of Perkins, OK, Raymond Shannon graduated from Oklahoma A&M College with a degree in Commerce and Marketing in 1921.  Raymond performed in Oklahoma with the Redpath Lyceum Bureau quartet as a featured soloist, and organized an all-girls high school band.  After his graduation, he became social director for the USO at Fort Monroe, VA, and later became the music director at Columbia University, from which he received a master's degree in 1926.  He helped reorganize the music department at Long Island University and was instrumental in the founding of the now-defunct Beta Zeta chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, similar to when he and William Scroggs installed the Beta and Gamma chapters in the fall of 1920.  Raymond also directed many church choirs and the community chorus of Gibson, NY, in addition to playing at many Brooklyn Dodgers games with his LIU band.  Also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and a founding member of Theta Alpha Phi (a national theater organization), Raymond served Kappa Kappa Psi as the first Grand (National) 1st Vice-President and as the District IX (Northeast) Counselor.  His wife Esther served as the first Tau Beta Sigma counselor for the same district.  Raymond passed away February 7, 1952, at the age of 52 on Long Island after a brief illness, leaving behind his wife and his daughter Mary Lou.

Collegiate Activities

1917-18 - Cornet player in College Band, Glee Club Treasurer, Commerce Club, Education Society, cast member of "An American Citizen", Dean's Cabinet.

1918-19 - Member of Student Army Training Corps.  Held the rank of Corporal in Military Band (cornet).  Drama Club, Glee Club, Sophomore Yell Leader, Sophomore Class President.

1919-20 - Founding Father of Kappa Kappa Psi, serving on the Constitution and By-Laws Committee.

            Business Manager of the 1920 Redskin yearbook, cast member of "She Knows Better Now", Drama Club (Theta Alpha Phi), cornet player in College Band, Corporal in Regimental Band, Glee Club, Commerce Club, "Wildcats" spirit group, Student Senate, Band President, Sigma Tau Fraternity.

1920-21 - Kappa Kappa Psi (Alpha President), Orchestra, College Quartet, Drama Club (Theta Alpha Phi) President, cornet player in College Band, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi, College Chorus.