Shannon, James P., 1921-2003

James P. Shannon was born on February 16, 1921 in South St. Paul, Minnesota to Patrick Joseph Shannon and Mary Alice McAuliff Foxley Shannon. He was the youngest of 6 children in a large Irish Catholic family. Joseph Shannon was born in Ireland, and was the owner of Shannon Cattle Company in South St. Paul. Mary Alice was first married to Fred Foxley, and was widowed with four small children prior to marrying Joseph Shannon and having two children with him, James and his older sister Mary.

James Shannon graduated from St. Augustine's (Catholic) School, South St. Paul, in 1934, attended Cretin High School from 1934 to 1936, and then transferred to St. Thomas Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1938 Summa Cum Laude, as valedictorian of his class. He attended the College of St. Thomas (St. Paul) from 1938 to 1941, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 1941 and was again valedictorian of his class, earning a baccalaureate degree with majors in classics and history.

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