[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1242-1243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    TRIBUTE TO PHILLIP C. CUNNINGHAM

 Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, as the 106th Congress begins its 
legislative process this week, I want to first take a moment and 
recognize a very special Mississippian.
  We have all heard stories about individuals who give generously or 
leave the bulk of their estates to causes and charities that are dear 
to them. This story is yet another example that the kindred American 
spirit is alive and well.
  Mr. Phillip Cunningham of Tupelo worked hard all his life, doing what 
he loved to do best--gardening. His profession provided a modest 
living, but most certainly a rewarding one. Working with his hands in 
the garden was very important to Mr. Cunningham who, for over 25 years, 
was a personal gardener for a local Tupelo family, Bill and Doyce Deas. 
In his ``spare'' time, he was caretaker for the school district. ``I've 
always been interested in growing things'' was his personal motto.
  Over the years, Mr. Cunningham accumulated savings. He recognized 
that a college education is important, and wanted others who shared his 
calling to have the chance to cultivate their green thumbs. This 
unselfish commitment led to the ultimate establishment of an endowed 
scholarship fund bearing his name--the Cunningham Scholarship Fund--to 
do just that. His gift of $38,000 will support students at Mississippi 
State University majoring in lawn-care related fields. Here was a 
modest man who made a significant contribution.
  Not only was this 85-year-old a skilled gardener with, as some 
affectionately would say, ``the midas touch'', but also a dear friend. 
According to Mrs. Deas, he was ``part of the family and a wonderful 
role model to our children. He enriched our lives in

[[Page 1243]]

many ways.'' In fact, Mrs. Deas' late father's foundation, the L.D. 
Hancock Foundation, will match the generous gift.
  Mr. President, I thank my colleagues for letting me share this 
inspiring story and pay tribute to this fine gentleman. The landscapes 
he worked on will ``bear fruit'' for years to come, and so will the 
students who benefit from his scholarship. They, too, will blossom.