[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E493]]
               MAYOR TOM CUNNINGHAM, A MAN FOR THE PEOPLE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BUD SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 1997

  Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I take the floor today to recognize one of 
the great men in my district. In the words of Edmund Burke, one of the 
great statesmen to serve in the British House of Commons, ``Great men 
are the guideposts and landmarks in the state.'' No phrase is more 
attributable to Mayor Tom Cunningham of Hyndman, PA. For the last 28 
years, Tom Cunningham has served as mayor to the small town of Hyndman, 
PA. For 24 of those years, I had the distinct pleasure of representing 
Hyndman and working hand-in-hand with Tom on helping to improve the 
lives of our constituents.
  Now the time has come in Tom's life, after a stellar career in 
service to his country and his neighbors, that he has decided to 
retire. His resume speaks for itself; a Korean war veteran, a borough 
councilman, member of the Hyndman Rescue Squad, volunteer to the Boy 
Scouts of America, Post Commander of the VFW, board member to the 
Bedford County Development Association, Hyndman-Londonderry Industrial 
Development Corp., the Redevelopment Authority of the County of 
Bedford, and the Bedford County Planning Commission. The recipient of 
many awards and honors, Tom's success as mayor leaves a powerful legacy 
to everyone who knows him.
  My most memorable experience working with Mayor Tom, and probably 
Tom's too, has been the reoccurring flooding problem in Hyndman. Wills 
Creek, which runs directly through Hyndman, is notorious for its flood 
problems. The cause of thousands of dollars of damage to the small 
borough, Wills Creek was Mayor Tom Cunningham's biggest challenge. A 
challenge which could not be conquered without the strong leadership 
and perseverance exemplified by Mayor Tom. Tom worked hard to rally the 
support of the citizens of Hyndman to demand action from Federal and 
State governments. It was truly a privilege to assist Tom in his battle 
against bureaucratic redtape which in the end almost prevented a 
solution to Wills Creek flooding. However, Tom's perseverance prevailed 
and the borough he so aptly represents, will soon have a permanent 
flood protection project. While all of Hyndman's problems may not be 
completely solved, Mayor Tom Cunningham's life work has helped make 
Hyndman what it is today, a wonderful place to live. In the words of 
Walter Lippmann, a noted journalist, ``The final test of a leader is 
that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to 
carry on.'' I know for a fact that Tom has accomplished this task. I am 
one of the ``other men'' who will work hard to continue Tom's fight.
  Even though he is retiring, I know we have not heard the last from 
Tom Cunningham. As his history has proven, I am sure Tom will remain 
active in the community of Hyndman. Mr. Speaker, I am sure you will 
join me in celebration of Mayor Tom Cunningham's magnificent career. He 
is truly a great man, a great leader, a great American, and I wish him 
well in his private life.

                          ____________________