[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5777]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF EUGENE S. ``GENE'' CUNY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RALPH M. HALL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 23, 2013

  Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Eugene S. 
``Gene'' Cuny Jr., who passed away on February 13, 2013. Gene was a 
very dear friend of mine, and he was blessed with an exciting life that 
allowed him to work a variety of fascinating jobs with interesting 
people. I know he will be missed by all who knew him.
   Gene was born in Houston, TX. From an early age, he demonstrated 
leadership and a strong work ethic. As a youth, Gene achieved the rank 
of Eagle Scout. After high school, he attended the University of 
Houston, where he received a bachelor's degree and graduated with 
Honors. Upon graduation, he received a scholarship to Colorado State 
University where he studied theater.
   He married his beautiful wife, Charlotte Walser, and they moved to 
New York City where Gene performed in the Broadway production of ``The 
Pirate,'' featuring actress Lynn Fontanne, in 1942. He also worked as 
the stage manager at Radio City Music Hall, and studied drama at Yale 
University as a Rockefeller Foundation fellow. He then went on to teach 
speech and English at New Haven Junior College in Connecticut.
   Following his education and career in theater, Gene returned to 
Houston, where he worked for an advertisement agency writing copy for 
radio commercials and soap operas. Cuny went on to work as a general 
manager for radio stations in Louisiana, and after moving to Dallas in 
1951, worked for KRLD-TV (now KDFW). He held the responsibilities of 
program director, national sales manager, and director of community 
affairs before he retired after 35 years. He also produced the Dallas 
press club's Gridiron Show, a spoof on news events, for many years.
   In addition to his successful career, Gene was also an active leader 
in his community. He was a press club board member, leader of the 
Dallas Advertising League, and president of the downtown Dallas 
Exchange Club. He was also a 32nd degree Knight Commander of Court of 
Honour Mason, a Dallas leader of the Scottish Rite, and a Rotarian, 
volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate for neglected or 
abused children. Gene also helped deliver Meals on Wheels all the way 
into his 90's.
   Gene is also preceded in death by his son Fred, who lost his life 
when he became deeply involved in international relief work. Fred was 
the leader of one of the most successful refuge assistance programs in 
recent decades, working abroad to help literally millions of refugees, 
whether in Africa, Southeast Asia, Kurdistan, Bosnia, or in Chechnya. 
Many think Fred was murdered during his effort to support Chechens in 
their resistance to a Russian attack. His body was never found. Gene is 
also survived by his wife Charlotte; their sons Chris, Phillip, and 
Eugene III; as well as eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
   Gene's verve for life and compassion for others are qualities we 
should all strive toward. I ask those here today to join me in honoring 
Eugene S. ``Gene'' Cuny.

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