A JOINT RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of william "pete" cunningham, former member of the general assembly.
Whereas, William "Pete" Cunningham was born in Union County on November 7, 1929, to John Wallace and Jonsie Patterson; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham graduated from Winchester Avenue School in 1945 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business law from Johnson C. Smith University in 1956; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham served in two branches of the United States military, joining the Army as a teenager where he served as a member of the Third Battalion 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division and enlisting in the Navy in 1966 where he served as a Radioman 1st Class aboard the USS Barracuda stationed in Charleston, South Carolina; and
Whereas, upon his retirement from the military in 1986, Pete Cunningham moved to Charlotte where he took on a number of business ventures including serving as president and co‑owner of a personnel agency known as Cunningham and Hatchett Associates; sole proprietor of the Historic Excelsior Club from 1988 to 2006, and as a real estate investor; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham served his community in many worthwhile capacities and was active in many organizations including the Charlotte Business League, Black Political Caucus of Charlotte‑Mecklenburg, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the NAACP of which he was a life member; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham was concerned about the welfare of children in his community taking an active role with the Anita Stroud Foundation which provides educational, motivational, and enrichment programs to children in the Mecklenburg County area and founding the Excelsior Club Humanity Organization (E.C.H.O.) which was established to assist the Anita Stroud Foundation's school tutorial program; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham served with honor and distinction in the General Assembly as a member of the House of Representatives from 1987 through 2007 during which time he was the longest serving member of the Mecklenburg‑Charlotte delegation; and
Whereas, during his tenure in the General Assembly, Pete Cunningham served as Minority Whip from 1995 to 1996, as an ex officio member of most of the standing and permanent committees from 2001 through 2007, and as a member of the Legislative Black Caucus; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham aided Governors James B. Hunt, Jr. and Michael F. Easley with increasing diversity in the State's hiring practices; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham earned many awards and recognitions during his lifetime including the Silver Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Certificate of Appreciation Award from the Anita Stroud Foundation, Certificate of Appreciation from Feed the Children, the Leadership and Public Service Award from North Carolina A & T State University, the Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Council on Sickle Cell Syndrome, the Benevolent Advocate of Healthcare Award from the Old North State Medical Society, and the Pinnacle Award from the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte‑Mecklenburg; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham was a member of the First Baptist Church‑West of Charlotte where he served on the Board of Directors; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham died on December 21, 2010, at the age of 81; and
Whereas, prior to his death, Pete Cunningham lost two of his sons, Gary Cunningham and Kenneth Cunningham; and
Whereas, Pete Cunningham is survived by his wife, Carla Rorie Cunningham; his children, William "Ronnie" Cunningham, Peter Cunningham, and Khristina Cunningham; two step‑children, KaMesha Rorie and Kyle Rorie; 11 grandchildren; and two great‑grandchildren; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of William "Pete" Cunningham and expresses the appreciation of the citizens of this State for the service he rendered his community, State, and nation.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its sympathy to the family of William "Pete" Cunningham for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of William "Pete" Cunningham.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.