Alan Manning

Private graveside services are pending for Alan Manning, 90 of Tyler. Interment will be at Cathedral in the Pines.

Mr. Manning died Nov 19, 2008 at Hospice of East Texas after a brief illness.

Early Life

He was born November 3, 1918 two months premature, not in the maternity ward, but in the flu ward of a local hospital in Seattle, Washington. Both he and his mom survived the great flu epidemic that year that claimed at least a half million people in the United States. That act of survival set the tone for the strong attitude and personality that Alan maintained for the rest of his life.

Alan and family moved when he was three to Renton, Washington and he was graduated from Renton High School in 1936.

He was graduated from the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington with a BA in Music in 1947. Although he had started college right after high school, a small skirmish call WWII interrupted and delayed his higher educational activities.

Young Adult

Alan always had a great love for music and during the depression played trumpet in a dance band, making more income for his family than his dad who drove a bus. He joined the U. S. Army in 1940 as a member of the Washington State National Guard. Prior to and shortly following the attack on Pearl Harbor, his duty was as an enlisted musician and field director of the Seattle Port of Embarkation Band.

At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, Alan had already met the love of his life, Marjorie and they were married Dec 14, 1941 one week following Pearl Harbor. At that time his National Guard unit had been federally activated and his commanding officer allowed the newly married couple a two hour honeymoon.

After other duties as an enlisted man, Alan was selected in 1944 to go to Officers Candidate School where he achieved success and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps. From that point until the armistice, he served in convoy duty aboard ships in the Pacific from the Aleutian Islands to the Philippines.

In July, 1946, Alan and Marjorie welcomed a new member to their family with the birth of Larry. Following his graduation from the university, Alan accepted a position as music director for the Kent-Meridian High School, in Kent, Washington. During this period, the family welcomed its newest member with the birth of Lynn in July 1950. Alan served as music director until 1950 when he was appointed the principal of the high school. In August of 1951, Alan was selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation Training School in Washington, D. C. He successfully graduated and was appointed a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Law Enforcement

Alan served in the FBI from 1951 until October 1972. With his first year in Houston and his second in Corpus Christi, he and Marjorie and the children had a crash course in being Texans. In September 1953, Alan was assigned to the Tyler resident agency and in December 1959, he was appointed the Senior Resident Agent, and retired from that position in 1972.

In 1970, Alan was selected by his peers in law enforcement as the East Texas Peace Officer of the Year. Immediately following his retirement from the FBI, Alan accepted a position as Director, East Texas Police Academy at Kilgore College, Kilgore Texas. He served as the director until December 1977.

Alan found solace after leaving the police academy, spending time at his lake house and contemplating nature with his dog Sakae. However, when Smith County found itself without a sheriff suddenly in July 1981, Alan answered the request from the county judges and served as the Interim Sheriff from July 1981 until March 1982 and again from November 1982 until March 1983. Following this service, Alan once again enjoyed his time at the lake.

Community Service

During Alan’s service with the FBI, he was approached by a new neighbor, the first minister for Pollard Methodist Church. The pastor, upon learning of both his and Marjorie’s music and education background, requested their help with his new congregation. For the next year, Alan was the first choir director of the church choir and rehearsal was held weekly in the family living room. Sunday mornings before church service on the TJC campus, saw Sunday school classes being taught again in the living room.

Alan also served his community and his family by working with his son and other boy scouts, first as a Webelos den leader and then as the assistant scoutmaster for Troup 363 sponsored by Marvin Methodist Church. Once again the music bug bit him and he worked with Larry to provide “Echo” taps to close many scouting ceremonies in the Tyler area.

In 1985, he began work as a contract investigator for R. J. Stevens and Associates. Following this in 1987, he finally retired for good spending the next 16 years in peaceful enjoyment with his loving wife Marjorie at home, at the lake and in travel both in the US and abroad.

Alan lost Marjorie in May 2003. He is survived by his daughter Dr. Lynn S. Manning, Sarasota, FL, his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Larry A. and Elaine Manning Tyler, two grandsons – Larry A. Jr. Northern VA. and Von, Union City, CA, and a niece and nephew in CA.

Services will be private. Memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas or a favorite charity in the name of Alan Manning.