'General Doctor' Manning honored by U of I for service
Idaho government's renaissance man gets recognition he deserved but never did seek.

by Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman

When friends of retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Darrell Manning hatched the idea of securing him an honorary doctorate at the University of Idaho, they kept it a secret.

"Darrell just doesn't talk about himself," said former Sen. Laird Noh, who joined U of I Distinguished Professor Jean'ne Shreeve in initiating Manning's nomination.

Noh and Shreeve served with Manning on the board of the Idaho Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR, which has brought tens of millions of research dollars to higher education in Idaho.

Last fall, they decided that Manning, 82, had been overlooked. Since his election to the Legislature as a Democrat from Pocatello in 1960, Manning has been a constant presence in Idaho government, often as a troubleshooter coming in to repair flawed management.

"I don't think anyone's done more in various fields to promote the welfare of Idaho than Darrell has," said former GOP Gov. Phil Batt, who served with Manning in the Legislature.

Manning has led six state agencies, including as adjutant general of the Idaho Air and Army Guard from 1985-95. From 1955-95, he flew 6,000 hours as a military pilot, visiting every continent except Antarctica. He also flew 12,000 hours as a civilian.

He headed the departments of Transportation, Health & Welfare and Aeronautics, and was interim executive director and a member of the State Board of Education. He ran the Division of Financial Management, writing budgets for Batt and Gov. Dirk Kempthorne. He chaired the Transportation Board, EPSCoR and the Higher Education Research Council.

He's remained active, serving on GOP Gov. Butch Otter's 2009-10 transportation task force, on a board at the Boise VA and as founding president of the Eagle-Garden City Rotary Club.

RELUCTANT HONOREE
Noh, R-Kimberly, enlisted former Rep. Max Black, R-Boise, in preparing documents supporting Manning's nomination as one of 249 recipients of honorary doctorates in the 's 125-year history.

Black obtained a slightly outdated Manning resume from the Transportation Department and set out to collect the signatures of the six living governors on a letter written by Batt.

"I had several people tell me I was crazy," said Black, a neighbor of Manning's in West Boise who sees him almost every day. But with the help of Claudia Simplot-Nally, a special assistant to Otter, he had collected all six during a week in November.

The signature of Gov. John Evans, who was ailing at the time and died July 8, is poignantly cramped and slanted. That detail was noted by interim U of I President Don Burnett, who approved the award along with incoming President Chuck Staben.

"There are people in public life who because they're unselfish and very committed to the public good go a little bit unrecognized," Burnett said. "I think Gov. Evans was one of them. I very emphatically think Gen. Manning is another."

Before reaching Burnett, the nomination was endorsed by the dean of the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences and unanimously recommended by the Commencement Committee of the Faculty Senate.

"All of the letters corroborated the exceptional breadth and depth of Gen. Manning's public service, and they portrayed a remarkably unselfish man of civil demeanor whose ethos of service has transcended partisanship," Burnett said.

WOULDN'T HAVE BOTHERED
Manning learned of his honor "out of the blue" in a February letter from Burnett and Staben.

"I didn't say anything to anybody," Manning recalled last week. "I kept it from Max because I didn't want anybody spreading the word."

Finally, he learned of Black's involvement. Accompanied by Noh and Black at commencement in May, Manning got a last surprise when Noh produced the letter from the six governors. Manning, having worked with all six, hadn't seen it.

Seeing Evans' signature was particularly moving to Manning, who had convinced Evans to begin a second stint in the Legislature in 1966. That led to Evans' 1974 election as lieutenant governor and subsequent rise to the governorship. Evans appointed Manning adjutant general in 1985.

"I was very pleased," Manning said. "I don't think I would have bothered him with something like that."

Three others also received honorary doctorates, all in humane letters: Sue Hovey, Keith Peterson and Judith Runstad. Manning's doctorate is in administrative science.

In his remarks at the Commencement Dinner, Manning lamented polarization in politics, recalling that when he served, "We'd argue on the floor and then go to lunch together. We were not enemies."

He closed with thanks. "I've been truly blessed to be allowed to serve my state and nation with the great people with whom I worked. It's humbling to be among the people being honored by the university, he said.In weekly golf games organized by Batt, participants have taken to calling Manning "General Doctor."

"Darrell changes the subject," Black said. "Just one or two comments and it's over."

Source: Idaho Statesman

Published 7-25-14