Texas Forestry Association (TFA) presented Tommy Cunningham Logging with the Texas Logging Council Outstanding Logger of the Year award during the organization’s annual conference held Oct. 16-18, 2019, at The Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Tommy Cunningham is the owner of Cunningham Wood Products located in Spurger, TX. It began in 1980 when Tommy, in middle school, asked his father, John Thomas Cunningham, to let him work full time on his logging job.
Cunningham Wood Products has grown in size and influence and now employs three business clerks, one graduate forester, sixteen loggers (eleven of which are Texas Pro Loggers), eleven drivers, and three mechanics all covered by workers compensation and general liability. Employees are offered health and life insurance with supplemental coverage.
“When Tommy speaks of his employees, he lovingly refers to them as ‘my men.’ He views employing thirty people as making provision for thirty or more families,” said Rob Hughes, TFA Executive Director. “The relationship between CWP and the local business community is unprecedented and to list just a few examples just doesn’t seem adequate. They provide all the fuel to the Spurger VFD; sponsor multi county youth programs, such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and 4H other programs; the Zavalla Food Pantry; as well as, various other local churches and ministries.”
CWP does various types of harvesting including plantation thinning, single-tree selection, and clearcutting. Forest management plans are executed accurately and in a timely manner. The company also adheres to sustainable forest management by following Texas Best Management Practices for long-term health and productivity of the land. Tommy was nominated for this award by Robert Wilson with FRC, and Shane Bergman with Rayonier.
Cunningham Wood Products is truly a family run operation whereby his wife, Ouida serves as the Office Manager, his mom, Betty Cunningham and daughter, Heather Wallet conduct office clerical duties. Son Jimmy Loftin, brother Marion Cunningham, and nephew Johnny Cunningham work on woods crews, and Uncle Robert Glaze serves as one of the shop mechanics. In addition to Cunningham Wood Products, he fulfills his true passion as Pastor of End Time Full Gospel Church in Jasper, Texas. Tommy’s family and friends will tell you his life is a sermon of perseverance and a testimony of God’s love.