Southeastern Community College Alumni Association | Distinguished Alumnus Award 2011
Richard (Dick) Canella was born in Burlington, Iowa, graduated from Burlington Junior College in 1940 and earned a Business Administration and Accounting degree from the University of Iowa. For 39 years he was employed by the Sheaffer Pen Company, a world-wide manufacturer of writing instruments, based in Fort Madison, Iowa. He became Vice President of Operations and saw the company grow to become the city’s largest employer with over 1200 employees, and another 1200 overseas.
Dick was instrumental in the start-up of Fort Madison Community Hospital. He served as Chairman of the Board for 32 years and guided the building of a new, state-of-the-art 50-bed hospital in 1986. His leadership and vision helped make the FMCH one of the best hospitals in the State. He also established the FMCH Foundation, and as President, he created the Kathleen Canella Family Scholarship fund, in memory of his wife, to assist local students pursuing healthcare careers. He received the Iowa Hospital Association Excellence in Governance award in 2001.
During his eight years on the Iowa Gaming Commission and four years as Chairman, Mr. Canella participated in the development of State gaming regulations and oversight of gaming, as well as issuing gaming licenses. Gaming is now one of the dominant industries in the State in the areas of employment and state revenue.
Dick is active in Rotary and the Tri-State Rodeo, where his wife served tirelessly as Ticket Chairman. His advice: “Stay active, be involved. Living in a big city is not always the answer, sometimes it is better to be a big fish in a little pond where you can make things happen.”
