University of Alberta

University Of Alberta Golden Bears & Pandas

University Of Alberta
Golden Bears & Pandas

Sports Wall of Fame

Murray Cunningham

Class
Induction

2016
Sport(s)

Golden Bears Football, Golden Bears Basketball

• Helped Golden Bears basketball win the program’s first national championship in 1994
• Earned an invite to Golden Bears football training camp, as well as Edmonton Eskimos training camp in 1994
• Drafted by the Edmonton Eskimos in 1996
• Won the Wilson Challenge Trophy as the U of A male athlete of the year in 1996
• Community involvement included the United Way of Central Alberta, past president of the Golden Bears basketball alumni, a founder of the Lacombe Community Basketball Association and chair of the Lacombe Athletic Park Association.

Murray Cunningham, ’97 BSc(CivEng), was raised on a farm near the eastern Alberta village of Mannville. His legacy with U of A athletics is that of an award-winning, six-foot-six, 245-pound basketball centre and football player.

He was with the Golden Bears for their first national basketball championship in 1994. That same year, Golden Bears football coach Tom Wilkinson invited Cunningham to spring training camp and convinced the Edmonton Eskimos to give him a spot on their training camp roster.

Cunningham played football with the Bears and was drafted by the Eskimos in 1996. He won some impressive awards, including U of A male athlete of the year. Since graduating, he has built a strong career with Scott Builders and is now chief operating officer of the company.

Cunningham lives in Lacombe with his wife, Nadine, and three children. His community involvement has included the United Way of Central Alberta, past president of the Golden Bears basketball alumni, a founder of the Lacombe Community Basketball Association and chair of the Lacombe Athletic Park Association.

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