H.R. No. 1435
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of William Cunningham of San
Marcos suffered an immeasurable loss with his death on April 19,
2018, at the age of 69; and
WHEREAS, Bill Cunningham was born in Cuero on March 19, 1949,
to Ellen and Bill Cunningham Sr., and he grew up with a sister,
Kaye; raised in San Antonio, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson
High School in 1967 and studied journalism at Southwest Texas State
University, where he was managing editor of the student paper until
he was fired for his outspoken articles against the Vietnam War; in
1972, while still in college, he became the first student and the
youngest person ever elected to the San Marcos City Council; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his life as a writer and activist,
Mr. Cunningham worked in the press department for Jimmy Carter's
1976 presidential campaign and as a legislative aide to
U.S. Representative J. J. Pickle, and he was appointed by Governor
Ann Richards to the Texas State University System Board of Regents,
which he served as chair; he also operated a successful public
relations business and helped to found the Lyndon Baines Johnson
Museum of San Marcos, where he was a board member and director;
until the end of his life, he remained active in public affairs in
San Marcos, serving on the city's Main Street and Library Boards;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Cunningham was an avid reader and book
collector, and he edited a Texas crime fiction anthology, Lone Star
Sleuths, for the Southwestern Writers Collection Book Series; known
as "Billy" or "Wild Bill" to his friends, he was a colorful figure
around town, frequenting coffee shops in his trademark fedora and
sunglasses and delighting his many admirers with his sharp
intellect and his keen satirical wit; he was a devoted husband to
his wife, Nevin, with whom he shared 33 rewarding years of marriage,
and a loving father to their son, Andrew; and
WHEREAS, An engaged citizen and an "icon of cool" in his
beloved San Marcos, Bill Cunningham lived a life that was rich in
personal and professional achievements, and memories of time spent
in his company remain to comfort those he leaves behind; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of William Cunningham
and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many friends;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of William
Cunningham.
Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1435 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 10, 2019.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House