[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 69 (Wednesday, May 6, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HARRY FRANCIS CUNNINGHAM, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 6, 2009

  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, it is my honor today to recognize the 10th 
anniversary of the death of Harry Francis Cunningham, Jr., a patriotic 
American, a great Nebraskan and an unsung hero.
  Harry Francis Cunningham devoted 31 years to the U.S. Foreign 
Service, serving in posts in Hungary, Spain, Germany, Vietnam, Sweden, 
Norway, Finland, and Canada during the tumultuous times of 1938-1969. 
During that time, Mr. Cunningham was personally responsible for the 
safety and survival of many families. At the tender age of 25, Mr. 
Cunningham was able to accomplish feats only achieved by real heroes, 
and through his noble actions, countless Jewish lives were saved.
  One example of Mr. Cunningham's many accomplishments is the story of 
Mr. Zoltan Roth and Mrs. Elizabeth Foldes, two people that he helped 
escape Hungary just before the onslaught of World War II.
  Both Zoltan and Elizabeth were graduate medical students seeking to 
escape Europe for America and facing dire circumstances. Both were 
brilliant students, but were banned by Hungarian medical school quotas 
against Jews. Instead, both graduated with honors from their respective 
schools, Zoltan from the University of Bologna in Italy and Elizabeth 
from Charles Medical University in Prague.
  Upon her graduation, Elizabeth had been accepted at Columbia 
University in New York City to do graduate studies. She and Zoltan were 
about to be married, and wanted to come to America together. When she 
arrived at the American Embassy in Budapest, however, she learned for 
the first time that her student visa was unattainable. Six years 
before, her mother had, without Elizabeth's knowledge or consent, 
signed her up for permanent residency status and this had nullified the 
student visa process. A person applying for a student visa could not 
have signaled a desire to remain permanently. Their plight looked 
hopeless. They made an appointment, again at the American Embassy in 
Budapest, this time, fortuitously, being assigned to a Foreign Service 
Officer, who turned out to be Harry Francis Cunningham, Jr., 25 years 
old and on his first post. Creatively, Mr. Cunningham readjusted their 
visas giving Zoltan Roth, Elizabeth's permanent visa that she had not 
known about, as well as a quota number so he could leave Hungary within 
the next couple of months, freeing up her student visa application for 
her, and allowing them both entry into the United States.
  Because of his kindness and creativity, Elizabeth and Zoltan came to 
the United States, each practicing medicine in Reading, Pennsylvania 
for over 50 years, they were generous philanthropists and community 
citizens. They raised three daughters who have been teachers, 
professors, authors, lecturers and leaders in the world-wide medical 
support community.
  This was just one example of how Mr. Cunningham was able to assist 
refugees after the war by providing them safe entry into America to 
start new and productive lives.
  Mr. Cunningham received a bachelor's of arts degree from the 
University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1933 and was awarded an UNL Alumni 
Achievement award in 1984. He was a former trustee of the Nebraska 
State Historical Society Foundation and the UNL Alumni Association. He 
served on the Bishop's committee and was a church warden at St. Mark's 
Campus Episcopal Church.
  Mr. Cunningham comes from a strong Nebraskan family as well. His 
father, Col. Harry Cunningham, took over the Nebraska State Capitol 
project after the death of Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. He is survived by 
11 grand children and 8 great grand children, several of which are 
still living in Nebraska.
  Many families owe their survival, and the lives of their children and 
grandchildren, to Mr. Cunningham. So it is my true honor to remember 
this unsung hero here today.

                          ____________________