
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 2, 1994                   TAG: 9401020072
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

1ST PLANNING CHIEF SHANNON DIES AT 76

Robert M. Shannon, the Roanoke Valley's first full-time director for the Regional Planning Commission, died Tuesday at age 76.

Shannon, a native of Bristol, joined the commission in 1964 after retiring from the Army Corps of Engineers. When Virginia was split into planning districts and the Roanoke Valley was merged with the Jackson River region, Shannon headed the Fifth Planning District Commission until 1971.

In his resignation letter, Shannon said being involved with the creation and development of the Fifth District was "one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences" of his life.

Shannon received his bachelor's and master's degrees in architectural design from Virginia Tech. He also attended Princeton University's foreign affairs school and served as a planning adviser for Asian countries throughout his career.

by CNB