[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2039]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING AUSTIN CUNNINGHAM

 Mr. GRAHAM. Mr. President, Orangeburg, SC, has lost one of its 
finest citizens with the passing of 94-year-old Austin Cunningham. Mr. 
Cunningham led a most distinguished life and his contributions to the 
people and community will be greatly missed.
  During his life, Mr. Cunningham was a soldier, businessman, community 
leader, writer, lawyer and citizen of the year. His hometown newspaper, 
the Orangeburg Times and Democrat, summed up his life--Mr. Cunningham 
was, ``the definition of a Renaissance man.''
  If there was a business or civic endeavor that would improve the life 
of his town and community, Mr. Cunningham was involved. From putting in 
new street lights to tackling the war on drugs on the streets of 
Orangeburg, Mr. Cunningham was proof that one person could make a 
difference.
  Mr. Cunningham played an instrumental role in helping young, 
underprivileged, at-risk teenagers find employment and learn the value 
of hard work. In 1984, he was invited to the White House to meet with 
President Reagan who thanked him for participating in this program.
  He was also a patron of the arts who supported and encouraged the 
choir at South Carolina State University, one of our Nation's foremost 
historically Black universities. The university awarded him its 
Distinguished Service Award in 1995.
  Orangeburg, SC, has lost a fine citizen, friend, and community leader 
with the passing of Austin Cunningham. His life work deserves 
recognition on the contributions he made to his fellow citizens.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and citizens of 
Orangeburg, SC, on the passing of Austin Cunningham.

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