Cunningham, T.M. (Thomas McHutchin)

Thomas McHutchin (T.M.) Cunningham (1887-1979), Presbyterian pastor, was born March 22, 1887 in Turnersville, Texas. On February 14, 1923, he married Hilda Lydia Hugon (1889 - ?). Hilda Cunningham was born December 8, 1889. The couple had one daughter, Hilda Grace (Tinker), born in 1928. Both T.M. and Hilda were very active in the Presbyterian Church in Texas.

T.M. received a Bachelor’s of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in 1916, and his Doctorate of Theology from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia in 1932, where he wrote his thesis on “Hymnology and the Music of the Church.” T.M. served in various capacities ranging from pastor to musician to Director of Religious Education at many Presbyterian churches in Texas, primarily in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, through the 1930s. From 1941-1947 he was a professor of Bible and History at Daniel Baker College in Brownwood, Texas. T.M. retired honorably in 1947. A musician and lover of music, T.M. studied voice at the Boston Conservatory of Music, and published a folio of music in 1969. Non-musical published works include Hugh Wilson, a Pioneer Saint in 1938, Story of Eliasville in 1958, and three others. T.M. Cunningham died February 27, 1979.

Hilda Cunningham attended North Texas State Normal School (now the University of North Texas) to obtain teacher training from 1916 until her graduation in 1918. She was very active in various clubs while a student. She later received a Bachelor’s degree of Art from the University of Texas, and completed some Master’s work at Boston University. In 1933, Hilda assumed the presidency of the Texas Synodical of U.S. Presbyterian women, which she held for several years. She had been the president of the Fort Worth Presbyterial previous to this appointment. She also served as secretary of the Woman’s Advisory Committee of the Presbyterian Church during this time. When the Cunninghams moved to Denton in 1936, Hilda began employment at the First Presbyterian church as “young people’s worker.” Hilda was very active in home missions, working through the church with African Americans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans in Texas. She spoke Spanish, and frequently engaged in missionary work with Mexican Americans.