TOM MANNING

Tom Manning, 81, of Cherokee Village, Ark., passed away Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018, at his home. He was born Sept. 14, 1936, to Melvin and Iva Belle Hathcoat Manning in Walnut Ridge, Ark., as the oldest of four children. He graduated from Walnut Ridge High School in 1954. A veteran of the United States Army National Guard, he graduated from Arkansas State College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. While attending ASC, he met and fell in love with visiting high school junior, Mary Emma Merideth of Caruthersville, Mo. His ability to see a goal through to completion, even then, led to their marriage on May 31, 1958. Two daughters later, he began work at Arkansas State College, where he wore numerous hats, including News Service Director and Director of Alumni Relations. During his 35-year career at ASU, he was also the longtime advisor to “The Indian” yearbook, and for years, took and developed, along with Phil Pickle, the group photographs during ASU’s cheerleading camp.

As News Service Director, Mr. Manning was instrumental in breaking the news in the college newspaper “The Herald” that Arkansas State College had become Arkansas State University. In January of 1967, he, “Herald” co-editor Roy Ockert, reporter Thomas Dickson and “Herald” advisor Joel Gambill headed to Little Rock to cover the Arkansas General Assembly session, where the vote was held to grant Arkansas State College university status. When the vote returned in favor of ASC becoming ASU, the team rushed back to Jonesboro to get the information to “The Herald”. Although the printed story could have been telephoned into the office, the photographs of the occasion, with then Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller signing the bill, still had to be developed. He drove from Little Rock to Jonesboro in near-blizzard conditions. In the backseat, Ockert typed up the lead story on a portable typewriter with Dickson holding a flashlight over his shoulder. The team made it back to Jonesboro in time for Tom to develop the photographs, and the story of the transformation of ASC into ASU was first reported in a special edition of “The Herald”, scooping the big newspapers in Little Rock and Memphis.

Throughout the years, Mr. Manning enjoyed spending time on a variety of hobbies, including stamp collecting and working on jigsaw puzzles. However, his most enjoyable time was spent with family and friends, either standing waist-deep in the cold waters of Spring River coaxing rainbow trout from beneath the moss beds or pursuing that ever-elusive “perfect” golf shot. Although he will be greatly missed by his family and friends, he would tell you that he was “just finishin’ up”.

Mr. Manning was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Iva Belle Manning.

Survivors of Mr. Manning include his wife, Mary of the home; daughters, Karen (the late Leslie) Crue of Germantown, Md., and Leisa (Robert) Strait of White Plains, Md.; grandson, Justin Crue of Germantown, Md.; sisters, Betty (George) Byers of Kennett, Mo., and Patsy (David) Smith of Germantown, Tenn.; brother, Michael (Mitzi) Manning of Jonesboro, Ark., and numerous nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Funeral services for Mr. Manning were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 at the United Methodist Church in Cherokee Village with Pastor Jimmy Anderson officiating.

Wortham Funeral Home of Highland, Ark., was in charge of arrangements.