Cunningham, Don, 1921-2000

Don A. Cunningham was born on October 16, 1921 in Lima, Ohio, son of Charles M. and Billie Lewis Cunningham. A graduate of Bowling Green State University in 1943, he maintained a close and continuing relationship with the University, serving as the first sports information director, coaching golf for seven years, and as assistant athletic director and business manager, receiving due recognition from BGSU in 1992 when the press-box at Doyt Perry Stadium was named in his honor. Married to Harriet L. McKnight on September 25, 1943, they raised a family of a son and two daughters. He continued to be an active member of the community, until his death on June 8, 2000 and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

A native of Lima and a 1939 graduate of Lima South High School, Don Cunningham came to Bowling Green in the fall of 1939.

Cunningham graduated from Bowling Green in 1943, and began his 33-year athletic administration career in 1946 as Bowling Green's first sports information director. He served as the SID for 20 years and had additional duties as the athletic ticket manager and varsity golf coach. The 1956 golf team won the Mid-American Conference championship under his guidance.

In 1952, he was named assistant athletic director, and became the associate AD in 1976. He served as the athletic business manager from 1965 until his retirement in 1979.

Cunningham was instrumental in founding the MAC Service Bureau. He served as the part-time Director of News and Information for the MAC from 1957-1964, and produced the first MAC football and basketball press guides and supervised the press previews in those sports in the early days of the fledgling conference. He has a lifetime membership in the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), and is a member of the CoSida Hall of Fame.

Don Cunningham is remembered today during Falcon football games, as Don Cunningham press box is named after him.