FWISD News Alerts

Gary J. Manny, Board President, passes away

Gary J. Manny, president of the Fort Worth Independent School District Board of Education since 1988, died Friday morning, March 15, 2002, in Fort Worth, Texas. The 56-year-old community leader's tenure as president was the longest in the history of the Fort Worth ISD.

A public memorial service has been scheduled at 10 a.m. March 30 at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a scholarship fund being established in his honor. Contributions may be made to the Gary J. Manny Scholarship Fund, c/o Fort Worth ISD, 100 N. University Dr., Ste. 260NW, Fort Worth, Texas 76107.

In 1986 Mr. Manny, an attorney, was first elected as trustee to represent District 5 on the near west/southwest side of Fort Worth, and two years later, was elected to represent the community at-large as school board president. He became only the second board member to become elected president in an at-large position. Re-elected at-large three times to lead the school board, Mr. Manny believed firmly that the board president should represent the school district as a whole rather than the interests of a single district.

The Fort Worth native was educated in the district's public schools, including Oaklawn and Glencrest elementary schools, Forest Oak Junior High (now a middle school) and Polytechnic High School. He graduated magna cum laude from Texas Christian University in 1967 and earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University in 1975. During active duty service with the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1967-1971, he became a commissioned officer and served as communication officer and legal officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA-62).

He opened his law office as sole practitioner in general civil law in the late 1970s and dedicated his life increasingly to public service.

During his tenure as board president, he led the district as new schools were built during a bond program passed in 1985 and played a vital role in the passage of a $398 million school improvement bond campaign by an
88 percent favorable vote in 1999. His support for higher salaries for teachers contributed to the district's success in recruiting and hiring highly qualified teachers. The current year began with no teacher vacancies.

In his leadership role with the school board, he was instrumental in leading changes that brought about continued improvements in the district's public schools. Under his watch, the school district began the successful Applied Learning program for elementary and middle schools, the Accelerated High School for ninth graders, the Success High School for evening classes, the International Newcomers Academy for immigrants, and expanded programs such as Parents as Teachers and Early Literacy.

Successful partnerships with businesses and governmental entities led to the Vital Link program for seventh-graders in the workplace, the Safe Schools Initiative, Fort Worth After-School programs, and Our City Our Children, which he co-chaired with Mayor Kenneth Barr. A recent collaboration with Texas Christian University Chancellor Michael Ferrari established the Stay-in-School Commission.

His strong collaboration with board members, district administrators and citizens helped bring about laudable increases in academic achievement, with 40 schools named either "Recognized" or "Exemplary" by the Texas Education Agency this year.

He served as chair of the Texas Council of Urban School Districts, co-chaired the Texas School Alliance with FWISD Superintendent Thomas S. Tocco and supported an FWISD presence in state educational issues. He was also the recipient of the Scholastic/National Alliance of Business Community Award for Excellence in Education, and, this year, he and his fellow trustees were among only a few in the nation to be recognized by the National School Boards Association for successful school board/superintendency collaboration focused on increased student achievement.

Mr. Manny was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Fort Worth National Bank, past chair and parliamentarian of the City of Fort Worth Sector Planning Council, a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club, University Area; and on the boards of the Sister City Association of Fort Worth, Inc., and the Fort Worth Cultural Advisory Committee.

He was also a member of the Collaborative Leadership Council, Historic Southside, Inc., Texas Christian University Committee of 100, Historic Preservation Society of Tarrant County, Park Hill Neighborhood Association, Board of Visitors of Texas Wesleyan University, the League of Women Voters of Tarrant County and the Greater Fort Worth Council of World Affairs.

Mr. Manny's numerous awards reflect his service and dedication to others. He was named Kiwanian of the Year in 1984, and received the 1990 Friend of the Neighborhood Award from Partners for Progress, the Kennedy Center Award for Excellence from Imagination Celebration, the Child Advocacy of Tarrant County Award for his work with Our City, Our Children, recognition from the I.M. Terrell Alumni Association for the development and restoration of that historic campus, and the 2000 Hope Award from Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.

Mr. Manny is survived by his wife Lynne; two daughters, Rebecca Morris of Fort Worth and Elizabeth (Liz) and son-in-law Alex Panganiban of Plano; and one granddaughter, Mackenzie Panganiban of Plano; brother, Roger Manny of Fort Worth and his children, Adam Manny and Sundi Manny Falconi; and a cousin, Wilma Johnston, of Arlington.

This information provided by
FORT WORTH ISD - Office of Communications
100 North University Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76107-1360
817-871-2455

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