David Funderburk
Encyclopedia
David Britton Funderburk (born April 28, 1944) was the ambassador of the United States
to Romania
from 1981 to 1985, and a U.S. Representative from North Carolina
, serving as a Republican
between 1995 and 1997.
Funderburk was born at Langley Field in Hampton, Virginia
as the son of a theologian-pastor and school teacher. He grew up in Aberdeen, North Carolina
and attended Wake Forest University
from 1962 to 1967 earning a B.A.
and M.A.
. He received his Ph.D.
in 1974 from the University of South Carolina
, with a thesis titled "British policy towards Romania, 1938–1940: a study in economic and political strategy".
Prior to entering politics, Funderburk worked as a professor of history. He initially taught at Wingate University
and then later at the University of South Carolina, Hardin-Simmons University
, and Campbell University
. He was a Fulbright Scholar who later received Romania's highest award to a foreigner. The University of Bucharest and Campbell University gave him honorary doctorates.
In 1981, Funderburk was chosen as the U.S. Ambassador
to Communist Romania
, serving at the post until 1985. In "Pinstripes and Reds", a book published in 1987, he described the process by which he was nominated and confirmed to be ambassador, as well as aspects of life in Romania during Nicolae Ceauşescu
's time. In 1986, Funderburk ran for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the Republican primary by incumbent Jim Broyhill
.
Funderburk became a professional lecturer and writer in 1988 and was elected as a Republican
to the 104th Congress
in 1994, coming in as a part of the Republican Revolution
. Funderburk was the first Republican to represent his district since 1901.
Funderburk was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 105th Congress
.
He currently resides in Southern Pines, North Carolina
and is a legislative consultant with the Senior Citizens League, and a professor at Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania.
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
from 1981 to 1985, and a U.S. Representative from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, serving as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
between 1995 and 1997.
Funderburk was born at Langley Field in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
as the son of a theologian-pastor and school teacher. He grew up in Aberdeen, North Carolina
Aberdeen, North Carolina
Aberdeen is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,400 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Aberdeen is located at ....
and attended Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
from 1962 to 1967 earning a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
. He received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1974 from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, with a thesis titled "British policy towards Romania, 1938–1940: a study in economic and political strategy".
Prior to entering politics, Funderburk worked as a professor of history. He initially taught at Wingate University
Wingate University
Wingate University was founded by Baptists in 1896 as Wingate School, an independent, co-educational institution and became a four-year college in 1977. In 1996, Wingate College became Wingate University....
and then later at the University of South Carolina, Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin-Simmons University
Hardin–Simmons University is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.-History:Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher...
, and Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
. He was a Fulbright Scholar who later received Romania's highest award to a foreigner. The University of Bucharest and Campbell University gave him honorary doctorates.
In 1981, Funderburk was chosen as the U.S. Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Communist Romania
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, serving at the post until 1985. In "Pinstripes and Reds", a book published in 1987, he described the process by which he was nominated and confirmed to be ambassador, as well as aspects of life in Romania during Nicolae Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
's time. In 1986, Funderburk ran for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the Republican primary by incumbent Jim Broyhill
Jim Broyhill
James Thomas "Jim" Broyhill is a Republican former U.S. Representative and Senator from the state of North Carolina. He represented much of the Foothills region of the state in the House from 1963 to 1986, and served in the Senate for four months in 1986.He was born in Lenoir, North Carolina, the...
.
Funderburk became a professional lecturer and writer in 1988 and was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the 104th Congress
104th United States Congress
The One Hundred Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 1997, during the third and...
in 1994, coming in as a part of the Republican Revolution
Republican Revolution
The Republican Revolution or Revolution of '94 is what the media dubbed Republican Party success in the 1994 U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and a pickup of eight seats in the Senate...
. Funderburk was the first Republican to represent his district since 1901.
Funderburk was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the 105th Congress
105th United States Congress
The One Hundred Fifth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1997 to January 3, 1999, during the fifth and...
.
He currently resides in Southern Pines, North Carolina
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Southern Pines is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 10,918 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Southern Pines is located at ....
and is a legislative consultant with the Senior Citizens League, and a professor at Emanuel University in Oradea, Romania.
Books
- If the Blind Lead the Blind: The Scandal Regarding the Mis-teachings of Communism in American Universities Erwin, N.C.: Carolina Arts and Publishing House, 1978.
- British Policy Toward Romania, 1938-1940 N.p., 1983.
- Pinstripes and Reds: An American Ambassador Caught Between the State Department & the Romanian Communists, 1981-1985 Washington, D.C.: Selous Foundation Press, 1987. ISBN 0944273017