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State of Arkansas 1
94th General Assembly 2
Second Extraordinary Session, 2024 HMR 1002 3
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By: Representative M. McElroy 5
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HOUSE MEMORIAL RESOLUTION 7
TO HONOR THE LIFE AND C ONTRIBUTIONS OF G. E RNEST 8
CUNNINGHAM. 9
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Subtitle 12
TO HONOR THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF G. 13
ERNEST CUNNINGHAM. 14
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningham, former Speaker of the Arkansas House of 17
Representatives and long -serving member of the General Assembly, died on June 18
11, 2024, in Little Rock, Arkansas, at eighty -seven (87) years of age; and 19
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningham grew up in Barton, Arkansas; and 21
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningham attended the University of Arkansas 23
where he: 24
(1) Was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, serving a term as 25
president; and 26
(2) Graduated with a degree in accounting in 1960; and 27
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WHEREAS, after graduating from the University of Arkansas, G. Ernest 29
Cunningham returned to Helena, where he worked for C unningham, Inc. for many 30
years, first with his father, Gordon, and later with his brother, Joe Tom; 31
and 32
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningham represented Helena -West Helena and part 34
of eastern Arkansas in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1969 to 35
1999; and 36 HMR1002
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WHEREAS, after he left the Arkansas House of Representatives, G. Ernest 2
Cunningham was a lobbyist for clients that included Arkansas Health Care 3
Association, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and Arkansans for Better Schools; and 4
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningha m spent many hours working to improve the 6
quality of life for everyone in Helena, Phillips County, and the Delta; and 7
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningham was instrumental in the development of 9
the: 10
(1) Helena-West Helena-Phillips County Port Authority; 11
(2) Helena River Park; 12
(3) Delta Cultural Center; 13
(3) Civil War Trail, as a member of the Arkansas Civil War 14
Sesquicentennial Commission; 15
(4) KIPP Delta Public Schools; and 16
(5) Restoration of several historic sites in Helena; and 17
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningham received many honors, including induction 19
into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame, the Phillips County Chamber of 20
Commerce Citizen of the Year, and the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow; and 21
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WHEREAS, G. Ernest Cunningham is survived by his wife Cathy 23
Cunningham, his two (2) sons Cotter Cunningham (Edie Rogat) and Baker 24
Cunningham (Ashley Cunningham), and five (5) grandchildren, 25
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NOW THEREFORE, 27
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL 28
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 29
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THAT the House of Representatives express sincere condolences to the 31
family of G. Ernest Cunningham and commend his contributions to Arkansas. 32
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT upon adoption, a c opy of this resolution shall be 34
provided to the family of G. Ernest Cunningham by the Chief Clerk of the 35
House of Representatives. 36