General Charles D. (Charlie)
Cunningham
Male
United States of America
1923-12-27
Ardmore, Oklahoma, United States of America
2012-11-27
Oklahoma, United States of America


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Cunningham, Charlie D., 89, tennis instructor, died Saturday. Memorial service 11 a.m. Wednesday, Freeman Harris Funeral Home Chapel. (Tulsa World)
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Charlie Cunningham was born December 27, 1923 in Ardmore, OK, son of the late R.A. and Ethel Cunningham. He died November 17, 2012 after a 2-months courageous battle with brain cancer. He attended Ardmore High School and the University of Oklahoma where he played on the tennis team from 1947 to 1951. He was a member of the US Air Force in World War II. On June 16, 1956 he married Nancy Kinsey. He is survived by his wife, three children, Debbie Miggins and her husband, John, Cherie Burgess, Blake Cunningham and his wife, Cathy ; grandchildren, Christine Miggins Rorabaugh, Julia Miggins, Matt Miggins, Danielle (Burgess) Appel, Kristen Cunningham; great grandchildren, Hunter and Danica Appel. He was the Director of Tennis at LaFortune Park from January 7, 1970 to August 31, 1993 where he started the first tennis leagues in Tulsa that helped grow the sport of tennis with hundreds of men and women participating in them. On October 14, 2012 a tennis court was dedicated to Charlie and Nancy Cunningham at LaFortune Park honoring their years of dedication to the center and the Tulsa Tennis Community. At his acceptance speech, Charlie remembered all of his tennis partners that had passed before him naming each of them individually. He then said that someday he'd be joining them and they'd be having one heck of a tennis tournament up in heaven. There is no doubt that one of the best tennis tournaments in heaven's history is now in process! His awards included, he was the first Tulsan inducted into the Missouri Valley Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1999 he was inducted into the Oklahoma Tennis Hall of Fame. This was the first year that the Oklahoma Hall of Fame came into existence. He was Past President of the Oklahoma District Tennis Association and the Tulsa Area Tennis Association. He ranked #1 in the state in the 45 & under singles when he played in that tennis division. His famous sayings were "Remember the three C's; Consistency, Concentration and Charlie" and "Just win the last point and the match will be yours"! Charlie loved the game of tennis and is well known throughout the Tulsa tennis community for the many lessons he gave, the tournaments he promoted at LaFortune Park, and his tennis leagues that grew the sport to record participation numbers. At his retirement party, his cake described him as a "Tennis Legend" which we would all agree is the perfect description of the man who loved the game with such passion and continued to play it into his mid-80s. A Memorial Service is scheduled for 11AM Wednesday, November 21, 2012 in the chapel of Freeman Harris Funeral. The family suggests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.

http://www.oktennishalloffame.com/Members/Charles-Cunningham.htm:
Charles Cunningham was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, on December 27, 1923. He graduated from Ardmore High School in 1942 and entered the U.S. Air Force. He was discharged in 1946 after serving in the USA, the Philippines, and Japan. He received a BBA degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1952 with a major in Business Management and a minor in Marketing. He was a four-year tennis letterman at O.U. winning four individual conference titles (two in singles and two in doubles). He lost only one conference singles match in his four years at college. O.U. won four conference team championships during his time there.

Charlie has played Oklahoma and Missouri Valley tournaments regularly since 1946, winning his share of titles. You will not find anyone who has ever competed against him, who will not agree that he is not only a fierce competitor, but always a gentleman.

He served as Vice-President of the Oklahoma District Tennis Association for five years and its President for two years. He served the Tulsa Area Tennis Association as its President for twenty years beginning in 1977. He was the first Professional-Manager of La Fortune Park Tennis Center, assuming those duties in 1970 when the park was first opened, and continued doing that for twenty-five years. During that time, the Tennis Center was selected by Tennis Magazine as one of the fifty most outstanding tennis centers in the United States.

In 1987, the facility was again awarded the title of Outstanding Tennis Center by the USTA. In 1974, he organized the first Men's and Women's tennis leagues, which quickly swelled to over 600 players per year.

In 1990, Charlie was inducted into the Missouri Valley Tennis Association Hall of Fame. He is one of the five original members of the Oklahoma Tennis Hall of Fame. He passed away November 27, 2012.



Media


Archive statistics 1953 - 1965
1
30
10


Tournament wins 1958 - Tri-State (Texas) (Amateur)


Tournaments Oklahoma State - 1965 Tulsa Open - 1965 Oklahoma State - 1962 Indian Capitol - 1962 Shawnee Open - 1962 Norman Rotary - 1962 Tulsa Open - 1962 Missouri Valley Championships - 1961 Oklahoma State - 1961 Shawnee Open - 1961 Shawnee Open - 1960 Tri-State (Texas) - 1958 Oklahoma State Closed - 1958 Sooner State - 1958 Tri-State (Texas) - 1957 Shawnee Open - 1957 Shawnee Open - 1956 Tri-State (Texas) - 1955 Tri-State (Texas) - 1954 Tri-State (Texas) - 1953 Sooner State - 1953

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