Greensboro College Establishes Cunningham Golf Endowment
Courtesy of Wes Gullett, Greensboro College SID
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Greensboro College has established its first athletics endowment, which honors a longtime local golfer, the late Charles Decatur Cunningham, Jr.
A private reception for contributors to the Charles Decatur Cunningham, Jr. Golf Program Endowment was held on campus Aug. 21.
More than 200 donors to date have contributed more than $150,000 to the endowment, which will help fund the ongoing needs and activities of the college’s golf program. Greensboro College competes in the NCAA’s Division III, in which athletic scholarships are not offered.
Fundraising was led by Jimmy Jones, Cunningham’s longtime friend.
“It has been a pleasure to work with an individual with such passion to honor another human being,” said Michelle Davis, the college’s vice president and chief advancement officer. “Because of Decatur’s good friend Jimmy Jones, the college has reconnected with many longtime supporters from years past.
“I certainly had no idea when Jimmy and I first spoke in January what a beautiful thing was about to unfold. Decatur would be proud to know that his legacy at Greensboro College is one that will continue to make a difference in the lives of student-athletes playing a sport near and dear to his heart.”
“We can’t thank the Cunningham family enough for all of their support of Greensboro College golf and our athletics department,” Athletics Director Bryan Galuski said. “This generous endowment will certainly impact the experience our student-athletes have during their collegiate golf careers. Today is an excellent day for Greensboro College golf!”
Cunningham began playing golf when he was 5 and played on the UNC golf team. He was a Greensboro Country Club champion. He won many Carolina Yarn Association golf tournaments. And he played golf until just weeks before he died Jan. 12 at the age of 88.
Cunningham’s ties to Greensboro College ran long and deep. He grew up downtown just yards from campus. His grandmother, sister, aunt, and at least 11 other relatives attended here.
He served on the college’s Board of Visitors from 1995 to 2009, and he served as honorary chairman of the college’s 16thAnnual Jim Locke Memorial Golf Tournament, a fundraiser, in 2005.
Greensboro College’s golf program has a history of excellence both on and off the course. The men’s team won national titles in 2000 and 2011 and also won an academic national championship in 2013. Fifteen All-America Scholars have played for the team in the past 50 years.
For information about contributing to the endowment, contact Davis at 336-272-7102, ext. 5332, or emailmichelle.davis@greensboro.edu.