Established in honor of Hugh W. Cunningham, a treasured member of the faculty from 1955 to 1989, this fund recognizes his contributions to journalism and the education of thousands of students. During his tenure, he was considered a master teacher, champion of the National Hearst Writing Competition and father of applied journalism. When fully funded, the endowment will support and reward superior teaching.

Hugh W. Cunningham earned a master's degree from the Missouri School of Journalism. He taught journalism at Sam Houston State University and put his teaching into practice for two years as editor of the Bryan Daily Eagle in Texas. He was working as an editor in 1955 when Rae O. Weimer, the first dean of the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida, contacted him to about a teaching position.

Retired CBS news anchor Dan Rather stated in his autobiography that he was a "Texas kid who never would have become a journalist but for the extraordinary efforts of a young professor (Cunningham) at Sam Houston State Teachers College."

Hugh passed away in 2015