R.W. ‘Dick’ Cunningham; Museum Exhibit Designer

R.W. “Dick” Cunningham, 76, museum exhibit designer and maritime historian. A native of Kansas City, Mo., Cunningham served in the Marines during World War II and the Korean War, earning the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Recuperating from wounds, he created the cartoon “Field Notes” for military newspapers. He became a museum and exhibit designer in 1960 and worked with Exhibit Group LA from 1976 to 1990. Delving into state maritime history, Cunningham wrote several articles and the 1989 book “California Indian Watercraft.” He also built models of the Native American boats described in his book and donated them to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the Santa Barbara Museum. From 1990 to 1995, Cunningham served as the founding curator of the Ventura County Maritime Museum. On Nov. 10 in Big Bear City of cancer.