Tom Manning

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of Tom Manning, who passed away on February 10 2018, at his home in Cherokee Village, Arkansas. Tom was born September 14, 1936 to Melvin and Iva Belle (Hathcoat) Manning in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, the oldest of four children. He graduated from Walnut Ridge High School in 1954. A veteran of the United States Army National Guard, Tom 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, Missouri. Tom's ability to see a goal through to completion, even then, led to their marriage on May 31, 1958. Two daughters later, Tom began work at Arkansas State College, where he wore numerous hats, to include News Service Director and Director of Alumni Relations. During his 35 year career at ASU, he was also the long-time 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, Tom 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, Tom, Herald co-editor Roy Ockert and 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-Governor Winthrop Rockefeller signing the bill, still had to be developed. Tom drove from Little Rock to Jonesboro, in near-blizzard conditions, while 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 Arkansas State College into Arkansas State University was first reported in a special edition of "The Herald", scooping the big newspapers in Little Rock and Memphis. Throughout the years, Tom enjoyed spending time on a variety of hobbies, to include 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. Tom is survived by his loving 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 nieces and nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents. Although he will be greatly missed by his family and friends, Tom would tell you that he was "just finishin' up". A celebration of life will be held Friday, February 16 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cherokee Village, with Pastor Jimmy Anderson officiating. Wortham Funeral Home in Highland, Ark. is in charge of arrangements.