# Richard G. Canning

> computer scientist

**Wikidata**: [Q96096505](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q96096505)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/richard-g-canning

## Summary
Richard G. Canning (December 3, 1918 – September 21, 2010) was a computer scientist and data-processing specialist best known for long-standing involvement with the Association for Computing Machinery, including receiving the ACM Distinguished Service Award (1976) and being elected an ACM Fellow (1994). His career is documented across library and scholarly authority records and computing bibliographies.

## Biography
- Born: 1918-12-03
- Nationality: not specified in the provided sources
- Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Cincinnati (completed 1940)
- Known for: Work in data processing and service to the computing community; recognition by ACM (Distinguished Service Award, 1976; ACM Fellow, 1994)
- Employer(s): Association for Computing Machinery (member; ACM Fellow designation 1994)
- Field(s): Data processing; computer science

## Contributions
Richard G. Canning's recorded contributions center on his professional work in data processing and his service to the computing community as recognized by professional honors. He was awarded the ACM Distinguished Service Award in 1976, a recognition given for notable service to the Association for Computing Machinery and the computing profession. In 1994 he was named an ACM Fellow, a designation that recognizes outstanding accomplishments in computing and information technology and/or service to ACM. Canning is indexed in multiple bibliographic and authority systems that track scholarly and professional output, including DBLP (author id 75/3239), the ACM Digital Library (author id 81100459966), Scopus (author id 57190039155), and numerous national library authority files (ISNI 0000000116572124; VIAF 62861775; Library of Congress authority n81026003). His education (B.A., University of Cincinnati, 1940) and archival records (findagrave memorial id 95118565; burial at Hollywood Forever Cemetery) further document his career and legacy within computing bibliographies and archival references.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Richard G. Canning born and when did he die?
A: He was born on December 3, 1918, and died on September 21, 2010.

### Q: What honors did Richard G. Canning receive from the ACM?
A: He received the ACM Distinguished Service Award in 1976 and was named an ACM Fellow in 1994.

### Q: Where did Richard G. Canning receive his education?
A: He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati, completed in 1940.

## Why They Matter
Richard G. Canning's recognition by the Association for Computing Machinery marks him as a significant contributor to the professional infrastructure of computing, particularly in the area of data processing. The ACM Distinguished Service Award (1976) highlights substantive contributions to the association and the broader computing community, while the ACM Fellow designation (1994) affirms sustained professional achievement and impact. Canning's presence in major bibliographic and authority systems (DBLP, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, ISNI, VIAF, Library of Congress) ensures his work and service are discoverable and citable by researchers and historians. These records aid scholars tracing the development of data-processing practices and the institutional history of computing. Without such documented service and recognition, aspects of mid‑ to late‑20th century professional activity in computing—especially organizational leadership and community service recognized by ACM—would be less visible to historians and practitioners relying on authoritative catalogs and award records.

## Notable For
- Receiving the ACM Distinguished Service Award in 1976.
- Being named an ACM Fellow in 1994.
- Earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati in 1940.
- Extensive bibliographic and authority presence (ISNI 0000000116572124; VIAF 62861775; DBLP author id 75/3239; ACM Digital Library author id 81100459966).
- Burial at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (as recorded in archival references).

## Body
### Personal and life dates
- Born: December 3, 1918.
- Died: September 21, 2010.
- Place of burial: Hollywood Forever Cemetery (recorded in archival references).

### Education
- University of Cincinnati.
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts.
- Completion year: 1940.
- Education record is documented in archival material (Computer History Archive reference).

### Professional affiliation and recognition
- Member of the Association for Computing Machinery.
- ACM Fellow: designation recorded with a start time of 1994.
- ACM Distinguished Service Award: awarded in 1976.
- These honors are documented in ACM award records and listings.

### Bibliographic and authority records
- ISNI: 0000000116572124.
- VIAF: 62861775.
- Library of Congress authority id: n81026003.
- DBLP author id: 75/3239.
- ACM Digital Library author id: 81100459966.
- Scopus author id: 57190039155.
- Additional national library and catalog identifiers include FAST id 1447739, NLA Trove people id 799320, CiNii research id 1140845216739247104, NUKAT id n2009041535, Libraries Australia id 35025641, and others.
- These identifiers corroborate his authorship and participation in scholarly and professional publishing.

### Field of work and language
- Field of work: data processing; broadly in computer science.
- Language(s) documented: English.

### Archival and memorial records
- Find a Grave memorial id: 95118565.
- Legacy.com person id / gbid: 145636756.
- Presence in multiple national catalogs and authority files supports ongoing discoverability of his work and service records.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. [Source](https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2014/03/102658068-05-01-acc.pdf)
3. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/distinguished-members/award-winners?award=144)
4. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/award_winners/canning_1002781)
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. CiNii Research
7. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)