The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-06-12
DR. CUNNINGHAM
 NOTABLE FIGURE IN STATES HISTORY
Prominent Physician and For mer Lieutenant Governor
 Had Brilliant Career In Many Walks of Life
By cHAs. H. MANDY

e z, The passing away of Dr. R. M K Cunningham, whose death occurred 3 Monday, June !, at his home in Bir- mingham. removed from the sphere of 1ife's activities one of the mosl notable men of Alabama.
 \ Of rugged north Alabama stock. ht | worked his way from comparative in the professional, political, frater- 4 nal, religious and social life of the state. and in the communities ir which he lived and labored.
 As physician, Dr. Cunningham was recognized as a leader in hii profession and held the high esteem of the members Of the profession not only of his own state, but in the medical circles of the country.
 As politician he was a lifelong democrat, strong in his conviction and fearless in the advocacy of the democratic principles. In office he was capable and honest. and noted for his sterling integrity in dealing with: all matters pertaining to his official duties. As public speaker he had few equals.
 Gtven At8n h0uorn
 In. the fraternal circles of the state he was held in the highest esteem attested by the fact that he was honored by the highest offices in the gift of his fraternal brethren And 1t is a matter of record that Dr Cunningham honored every position of trust to which he had been elected.
 A Baptist from early youth, he was true to the teaching and principles oi his church. Active in its affairs and prominent in it's councils, he lived Christian life and died assured of the reward consequent on a well spent life. During his later years he de- rived his greatest pleasure from the reading and studying of the Bible.
 Socially he was one of the most genial and companionable of men, ant numbered among his close personal friends men in every walk and sta tion of life.
 A kind and loving husband and father, Dr. Cunninghams home life was ideal; such crosses that came to him. he bore bravely and without coniplaint To his bereaved ones his friends extend their deep and tender sympathy.
 For much of the following history of pr. Cunningham's life the writer is indebted to George A. Beauchamp his lifelong friend and fraternal as- -sociate.
 Born in Lawrence County
 pr. Russell McWhorter Cunning sham was born on the 25tf day of-August, 1855, at Mount Hope 5,awrance county, Ala. At the timt Of his birth his father was mer' chant. 6but retired to a little farm near Mount Hope in 1861. Dr. Gun njngham was reared on this farm working as a farm hand, receiving common school education between laying by and gathering and plant ing crops. He studied medicine under Dr, J AI Clark at Mount Hope, takina his first course of lectures at tho University of Louisville in 1874. Ht commenced the practicel of medicine at Newbury in Franklin county a, mn undergraduate in 1875. In 1s7s he graduated at the Bellevue Hos Ipital Medical college, New York, ant resumed the practice of medicine II Franklin county.
 In 1880, pr. Cunningham wal elected member of the lower house of the general assembly from Frank. lin county. In March, 1881, he wal appointed physician of the peniten' fiary-for 2 term of four years Fol two Wears of this time he lived al sWetuinpka, In 1883, removing tt Pratt City.
 Prison Physician
 Tn 1885 he was appointed prisor physician of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company, ant served as such for number o1 wears, also, serving as physician ant surgeon of the Alabama Steel ane Ship Building company, the Ensle1 division of the Tepnessee, Chatta nooea and Iron Railway compan, and the Semett- -Solvay company fo: many years ! Dr. Cunningham conducted a pri xate hospital at Ensley and also hat sa large private practice until hs retired from the active practice O his profession a few years ago. H' served as a professor of the princi' ples and practice of medicine In thu Birmingham Medical college ant was president of the Jefferson County Medical society; of the Tri State Medical Society of Georgia salabama and Tennessee and of tht Medical Association of Alabama.
 State Senator
 , In 1896 he was elected to the stat' senate from Jefferson county, il 1g9S was elected president of tha body. He was unanimously nom mated as a delegate to the consti tutional convention prior to the re neal of the act in 1899. and wa elected a delegate from the senate rial district of Jefferson county t