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Grand Champion Award was established and presented,
in honor and tribute to Christopher James Canning,
at the First Central Illinois Taekwondo Championship
held November 17, 2001. The Trophy, in his memory,
is presented annually to the competitor that shows
the most spirit, determination, and sportsmanship
throughout the tournament. In 2004, a Five Hundred
Dollar ($500) scholarship was also implemented in
his name and presented at the championship. The
recipient was selected from formal submittals made
prior to the championship; based on academic achievement,
martial arts accomplishments, personal attributes,
and community involvement. The winner, annually,
is the one who most represents Chris and his accomplishments.
Chris
was trained and coached by Master Sharp over a
four year period. He was a member of 11 different
state teams, and won 15 state titles and 3 national
titles accumulating 15 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze
at the state level and 3 gold, 1 silver, and 1
bronze in national competition. In addition, he
was an AAU Taekwondo “All American”,
a member of the U.S. Elite Team Training at the
Olympic Training Center, 1999 Illinois USNTF “Athlete
and Student of the Year”, and 5 times “Athlete
of the Week” in three different Illinois
cities. Two national awards and three international
awards; one by the United States AAU Taekwondo,
one by the United States Martial Arts Hall of
Fame, one by the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame,
one by the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame
and the fifth by both the WIF/USA Martial Arts
and World Black Belt Organization, are given annually
in his name and honor. In 2003, he was inducted
into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame in a ceremony
held in Dallas, Texas and into the World Ildokwan
Federation (WIF) International Hall of Fame for
the United States / Canada. Also, the World Headquarters
of the World Ildokwan Federation, in the U.K.,
promoted Chris to Black Belt 2nd Dan for achieving
excellence and elite status in the Martial Arts.
Further, articles of tribute were published in
the Taekwondo Times and Black Belt Magazine. Olympic
Coach Han Won Lee, also, published an article
in the Taekwondo Today, official publication of
the Olympic Training Center, in his honor. Most
recently, the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame
inducted him with the “Gold Star Award of
Excellence,” established the “Chris
Canning Superstar Youth Award,” and awarded
the President’s Medallion of Distinction.
Finally, the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame inducted
him as “The World’s Most Outstanding
Junior Martial Artist” and honored him in
“Memoriam”, an honor given posthumously
and reserved for the elite. They also established
the “Chris Canning MVP Award”, which
will be awarded each year.
Chris
applied the discipline of his martial arts training
and its Tenets to his personal life as well. In
school, he was an honor student, part of the choir
and school band, and heavily involved in athletics
playing as a starter on his school’s football,
basketball and baseball teams. He carried his
energy into to the field of music playing classical
piano, drums and guitar. As a citizen within his
community, Chris helped the needy, elderly, and
the homeless. His love for animals was demonstrated
by working at his grandparents’ animal shelter
caring for and finding homes for abandoned animals.
His friendship was dedicated, true, and like a
second family to him. Regardless of his determination
to avoid recognition for his efforts, many came
before and after his passing. His family received
a personal letter of recognition from the President
of the United States, he was a recipient of the
U.S. President’s Student Service Gold Award,
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin made a speech in his
honor on the Senate Floor in Washington, D.C.,
the U.S. Congressman from Illinois sent a letter
of tribute, and he was awarded the U.S. Point
of Lights Foundation President’s Award for
his community involvement. Also, Central Illinois
newspapers and ABC TV did tributes on his life
accomplishments and honors. An exhibit on his
life’s achievements was held at Truman College
in Chicago and the Decatur Mayor, Paul Osborne,
published an article in the Decatur Tribune in
tribute to him. Finally, the city of Maroa (his
hometown) approved a memorial in the city park
and his high school published a dedication page
in the yearbook, established an athletic display
and paid tribute to him at the 2004 graduation
ceremonies (the year he would have graduate).
Chris
was very modest and became embarrassed with the
honors and tributes that came to him. He would
do his best to avoid the media, play down his
own accomplishments, and praise the achievements
of others. Chris touched everyone he came in contact
with, in a very positive and lasting way. We will
never forget him and will forever miss him. God
Bless.
Martial Arts Accomplishments:
*
Member of 11 different State Teams in Illinois
and Missouri over 4 years
* 15 State Titles winning 15 gold, 6 silver, 4
bronze in 11 State Championships
* 3 U.S. National Titles winning 3 gold, 1 silver,
1 bronze in 5 Nationals / Jr.Olympics
* United States AAU Taekwondo "All American"
at 2000 National Championships
* 5 times “Athlete of the Week” in
3 different Central Illinois cities
* 1999 Illinois "Athlete & Student of
the Year" - USNTF
* U.S. Elite Team, ’99 Training Camp, Olympic
Training Center in Colorado
National and International
Taekwondo Honors:
*
World Martial Arts Hall of Fame inducts as “Most
Outstanding Junior Martial Artist”
* World Martial Arts Hall of Fame adopts “Chris
Canning Most Valuable Player Award”
* World Martial Arts honors in Memoriam, given
posthumously and reserved for the elite
* World Ildokwan Federation inducts into International
Hall of Fame for USA/Canada
* World Headquarters of the WIF in U.K. promotes
to Black Belt 2nd Dan for excellence
* Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame adopts “Chris
Canning Superstar Youth Award”
* Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame awards “President’s
Medallion of Distinction”
* Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame inducts
with “The Gold Star Award of Excellence“
* World Black Belt Org. & U.S. WIF implement
“Chris Canning Black Belt Scholarship”
* World Publications of TKD Times & Black
Belt Magazine do Articles of Tribute
* U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame adopts “Chris
Canning Youth of the Year” Award
* U.S. Martial Arts inducts into Hall of Fame
in Dallas, Texas ceremony
* U.S. AAU Taekwondo implements “Chris Canning
Award of Excellence” at Nationals
* U.S. Olympic Coach, Han Lee, honors in Taekwondo
Today at the Olympic Trng. Ctr.
* Grand Champion Award and Scholarship, in his
name, at Regional Championships
* Personal attributes used to teach Tenets of
Taekwondo in Martial Arts Schools
Personal
Awards and Recognition:
*
U.S. President, George W. Bush, sent personal
letter of recognition to his family
* U.S. President’s Student Service Gold
Award for his community service work
* U.S. Senator Dick Durbin honors with speech
on Senate Floor in Washington, D.C.
* U.S. National Point of Lights Foundation President’s
Award Recipient and honoree
* U.S. Congressman Ray La Hood of Illinois delivers
written tribute and recognition
* Central Illinois newspapers and ABC TV do tribute
to his life achievements
* Truman College in Chicago, holds six week exhibit
on his life accomplishments
* Mayor of Decatur, Paul Osborne, writes article
of tribute in the Decatur Tribune
* Maroa City Counsel and Mayor Approve Signage,
Tree Planting & Memorial in park
* High School dedicates full page tribute in yearbook
& establishes athletic display
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