HOUSE, 72nd, 73rd, and 75th General Assemblies, 1941-45; representing Montgomery and Houston counties in 72nd and 73rd and Montgomery alone in 75th; Democrat. Born at Clarksville, Montgomery County, Feb 1, 1917; son of John Talley and Sarah (White) Cunningham. Attended Ringgold elementary school, Montgomery County; Clarksville High School, graduating 1934; Cumberland University, Lebanon, Wilson County, 1934-36, receiving LL.B. degree, 1935. Married at Clarksville June 18, 1938, to Anne Peay Rudolph, daughter of Paul and Cornelia (Watts) Rudolph of Clarksville; two daughters – Cornelia and Ann Chapman. Has practiced law at Clarksville 1936 to present (1969). In World War II; inducted U.S. Navy at Chattanooga Feb 1, 1945; served at U.S. Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL; U.S. Naval Personnel Separation Center, Nashville; Naval Training Center, Gulfport, MS; awarded Victory Medal; honorable discharge as Seaman First Class at Memphis Apr 13, 1946. Member board of stewards Madison Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Clarksville, secretary and later chairman of board; Free and Accepted Masons; Order of the Mystic Shrine; Civitan Club, president 1941; Chamber of Commerce. Office 207 Glenn Bldg.; res. 1224 Madison, Clarksville. Son of John Talley Cunningham, sometime member TN General Assembly.

Sources:  Information supplied by self, Apr 25, 1958; TN War Records Office; TN Public Acts, 1941, 1943, 1947; Clarksville City Directory, 1961.
 

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist