WHEREAS, Francis Cunningham, a Lowell, Massachusetts native, has lived in the Seattle area for over 60 years; and
     WHEREAS, Frank served his country in the United States Marines during World War II; and
     WHEREAS, Frank resumed his studies at Harvard College after his war service and distinguished himself with the Harvard Crew; and
     WHEREAS, He stroked the victorious 1947 Harvard Varsity Eight to national prominence and won the invitational race that summer at the University of Washington, besting eleven other college rowing teams; and
     WHEREAS, Recognizing the unsurpassed beauty of the Pacific Northwest, he relocated to Seattle following his graduation from Harvard in 1948; and
     WHEREAS, Frank immediately immersed himself in the established rowing scene in Seattle, coaching for the summer Junior Rowing Program, and was instrumental in expanding it to become the Green Lake Junior Crew, a year-round, coeducational sports program for high school students, for which he served as coach and boatwright for 20 years; and
     WHEREAS, Frank married his beloved wife, Lora Jane, and together reared their three children, and he now dotes on their five grandchildren; and
     WHEREAS, He taught at Edmonds High School from 1950 until 1968, and then at the Lakeside School from 1968 until 1980, instilling in his students the values of integrity, perseverance, and the joys and beauty of the English language and literature; and
     WHEREAS, Frank has endeavored to carry on the traditions of his friend and mentor George Pocock and George's son, Stan, and has been the head coach of Lake Washington Rowing Club for many years, training national and Olympic competitors and local residents in the art of rowing; and
     WHEREAS, For his lifelong dedication to the sport and to teaching and coaching, Frank was awarded the 2010 USRowing Medal of Honor; and
     WHEREAS, Thousands of his students, academic and rowing, have benefited from the kindness, expertise, patience, counseling, and advice of this true "Renaissance Man";
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honors Frank Cunningham on the 90th anniversary of his birth for his service to his community and the nation as a teacher and coach.