Jeff Cannon is a fifth generation Pasco County native. In the early 1880s his great-great-grandfather helped to establish the small Pasco community of Bethlehem, where he donated land for a school and helped to establish one of the county’s first Baptist churches. This community was situated near today’s Hudson Avenue and Hays Road on property now owned by Word of Life Bible Camp. His family also shares genealogical connections to many of Pasco and Hernando County’s pioneer families spanning ten generation in Florida. At age 16, Jeff interned with local TV News station WTVT- Fox 13 where he learned many investigative and research techniques as an on-air reporter for a teen talk show, hosted by TV anchor Denise White. In this capacity he also worked behind the scenes coordinating, researching, and planning for the show’s weekly topics. In 1996, along with veteran news reporter Warren Elly (1951-2015), he attended the Vice-Presidential Debate in St. Petersburg covering attendees and candidates Jack Kemp and Al Gore. This event was covered globally with an audience of over 100 million viewers. His experiences as a news station intern lead to his life long work. For more than a decade Jeff has been actively involved in politics, historic preservation / research, historic cemetery restoration, and writing. In 2009, he authored his first book title Images of America: Hudson and in 2011, authored the book titled Then & Now New Port Richey, both published by Arcadia Publishing Co. In 2012, he began writing a weekly historical column as a freelance contributor for New Port Richey and Land O’ Lakes Patch, an AOL company. He has also submitted research materials to several nationally recognized organizations such as Discover Black Florida, University of South Florida Africana Heritage Project, Civil War Florida, and the African-American Historical and Genealogical Society. These efforts have also allowed Jeff the opportunity to serve for several non-profit organizations in the following capacities: • Pasco County Historical Preservation Society, President/ Founder • West Elfers Cemetery Preservation Assoc. Inc, President • Hudson Cemetery Preservation Assoc. Inc., Vice-President • East Elfers Cemetery Board, Vice-Chairman / Sales Representative • Greater New Port Richey Main Street, Board / Design Committee Chairman • Rotary Club of Hudson, Florida, President / Board • West Pasco Historical Society Inc., Lifetime Member • Pioneer Florida Museum Assoc., Lifetime Member Through the grassroots of being community activist, community advocate, and by writing, Jeff has brought awareness to the many problems plaguing the area’s historic cemeteries and historic resources. As a result, he has brought effective change to local policies that now protect these precious community resources. Jeff’s commitment to his community and preservation of our historic resources has also afforded him the opportunity to serve on the following county committees and non-profit boards, some of which were made by appointment: • Pasco County Historical Preservation Committee, At-Large Member • Pasco County LandDevelopment Code Re-Write Committee, Re-write of Chapter 800, Natural and Cultural Resources Protection • Tampa Bay Metropolitan Planning Organization CAC, Pasco Dist. 4 • Pasco County Post Disaster Redevelopment Committee, Stakeholder • Pasco County West Market Redevelopment Committee, Stakeholder • Moderator, 2012 New Port Richey City Council forum sponsored by New Port Richey Patch Today, Jeff continues to work tirelessly for the preservation of local resources and he is currently assisting in the start-up of a communications business and still maintains a monthly historic column for the Tri-County Shoppers guide, with more than 30,000 issues distributed from Pinellas to Citrus County.
