May 27, 1981
The President announced today his intention to nominate Theodore E. Cummings, of Beverly Hills, Calif., as Ambassador to Austria. He succeeds Philip M. Kaiser, who has resigned.
From 1960 to 1972, Mr. Cummings served as chairman of the board of Pacific Coast Properties, a firm specializing in real estate development, of Beverly Hills, Calif. From 1967 to 1969, he was president of the California division and vice chairman of the board of Vornado, Inc., Santa Fe Springs, Calif. From 1944 to 1968, Mr. Cummings served as president and chief executive officer of Food Giant Markets, Foster Freeze, Unimart, Builders Emporium of Santa Fe Springs, Calif.
Mr. Cummings, a philanthropist who has been long involved in civic and community affairs, has been a member of the board of directors or trustees of: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; University of Southern California; the Joseph H. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. He was founder of the Theodore E. Cummings Humanitarian Award, the Eleanor Roosevelt Cancer Foundation, the Los Angeles Museum of Art, and the Los Angeles Music Center. He served on the Commission on Judicial Qualification of the State of California, California Hospital Commission, and in 1971 was appointed by the President as a member of the Committee on the Health Services Industry, Cost of Living Council.
In addition, Mr. Cummings has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the degree of honorary doctor of law from the University of Southern California, the degree of doctor of humane letters from the University of San Fernando, and the degree of doctor of laws from Pepperdine University of Los Angeles.
Mr. Cummings was born December 25, 1907, in Brzzany, Austria. He is married and has two daughters.