Thomas James Manning 1935-2006

MANNING, WINBURN, KARNS, ORMAN, EAU CLAIRE

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 10/20/2011 at 12:46:03

Death Notice:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Wednesday march 8, 2006)

MANNING, THOMAS JAMES, 70, of Leon, Iowa, died Monday, February 27, 2006 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A private family services was held following cremation rites.

Obituary -

THOMAS JAMES MANNING ... Thomas James manning, 70, of Leon, Iowa, died Monday, February 27, 2006 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Tom was born March 29, 1935 in Des Moines, the son of Judson Perry and Harriet [Winburn] Manning. He was an expert marksman at the age of nine, won boating awards at age 11, and attended Shattuck Military School at the age of 14, herded cattle in Texas at 15, and graduated from North High School in Des Moines, attended Drake University and the University of Arizona.

Tom went into the U.S. Army at the age of 19. He received special Green Beret Training, training in aerial photography and was a member of an all volunteer "Aggressor" Commando Force used to train combat troops. He graduated from the Adjutant General School in Personnel Management, was granted TOP SECRET and CRYPTO Security Clearances, and was assigned to the U.S. Army Security Agency throughout the Suez Canal Crisis.

Tom became a corporation president while still a college student and started out as an advertising psychologist. He soon became more valuable as a commercial photographer. He became owner-manager of the Adrian Studios School of Modeling. Mr. Manning is listed as "one of the top models' agents in the world" in the Careers Research Publication "MODELS' HANDBOOK 1968," Tom was a guest teacher at the California State College "Experimental College" and initiated a number of innovative teaching methods. He was on the promotional staff of "NASHVILLE SOUND" starring Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride and Loretta Lynn.

Tom was soon drafted into the motion picture industry, first as a publicity photographer, ad designer for film distribution and then Film Production Manager, Associate Producer and then Producer-Director. As an Associate Producer at Samuel Goldwin Studios under Don C. Como (Perry Como's nephew), they produced "Man of Miracles" with Rod Serling and the quadruple award-winning file "Unknown Powers" with Jack Palance. tom was a special consultant on the "Star Trek IV: THE VOYAGE HOME.:" "BATTERED WIVES," staring Mike Farrel at Disney Studios, was produced entirely by Tom. Tom won the HOLLYWOOD FILM ADVISORY BOARD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE along with many other awards in the motion picture industry and in commercial photography.

When he took a medical retirement from the film industry, and relocated to New Mexico, he became a court appointed special investigator for the Juvenile Justice Department working as an Officer of the Court investigating child abuse cases.

He had the honor to have met Eleanor Roosevelt and the real Agent "007".

On October 9, 1962, Tom married Joyce Karns of Leon.

Having survived a lifetime of severe health problems, Tom remained optimistic. He was an adoring husband, had a great sense of humor, always challenged people to be their best and protected those who could not protect themselves.

Tom is survived by his wife, Joyce of Leon; four sons, Tom Jr., Gary, Darwin, and Bob; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson; two sisters, Margaret Orman and Ruth Eau Claire.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and older brother Wes and a son, John.