HISTORYOur History
Thirty Years in the Dirt.
From Southern Illinois to the Colorado Front Range — built on hard work, heavy iron, and crews that show up.
Where it all began
Southern Illinois Roots.
Cannon Excavating got its start in Southern Illinois in the 1990s, built on hard work, dependable equipment, and a willingness to take on challenging projects. In the early years, the company focused on rural excavation—digging ponds, constructing water diversions, moving earth, and helping bring water and sanitation infrastructure to rural Illinois communities. Over the years, Cannon grew into larger and more complex earthwork and underground utility projects. The equipment and locations may have changed, but the principles have remained the same: work hard, take care of people, and stand behind our work.
30+
Years of experience
Timeline
Milestones that shaped us
Early-1990s
Founded in Southern Illinois
John R. Cannon started Cannon Excavating, which began serving Southern Illinois, focusing on rural excavation and earthmoving.
Late-1990s
Growing the Fleet
Cannon Excavating became one of the first contractors in the area to invest in a modern hydraulic excavator, bringing new efficiency and capability to excavation work throughout the region. Around this same time, Shane Cannon became involved in the business, beginning the next generation of Cannon Excavating.
Early-2000s
Expanding the Scope
Cannon invested in tractor-and-pan combinations to take on larger earthwork projects, including ponds, water diversions, and mass excavation.
2010s
Rural Water & Sanitation Projects
Cannon Excavating was involved in union projects that upgraded existing infrastructure and brought new water and sanitation services to rural communities throughout Southern Illinois.
2018-Today
Front Range Operations
Cannon expanded west to Colorado, giving rise to the name Cannon West. Today, the company serves Northern Colorado and the Front Range, specializing in earthwork, underground utilities, and site development for commercial and civil projects. This chapter also marked Phoenix Cannon's involvement in the company, continuing to grow Cannon's capabilities while carrying forward the experience and work ethic built over decades in the excavation industry.
From the field
Early job sites
