YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Ralph Manley, a former Springfield City Council member, homebuilder and decorated serviceman, died yesterday. He was 95.
Janell Manley, Ralph’s daughter, posted about her father’s death on Facebook.
“He is soaring once again with the Eagles,” she said in the post, referring to Ralph Manley’s service in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, aka Screaming Eagles, during World War II.
As a demolitionist in the Army, he was wounded six times and earned five Purple Hearts and Two Bronze Stars. He went on to work in the homebuilding business, constructing multiple subdivisions and over 2,000 homes, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.
He served as a Springfield councilman for a 10-year period through 2009, when he resigned from the governmental body.
His service in the Army and Springfield business and civic communities earned him accolades including SBJ’s Lifetime Achievement in Business honor in 2001 and the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s Springfieldian award in 2006.
A former teacher of business, real estate and finance at Missouri State University, Manley also was known for handing out silver dollars and signed copies of his autobiography, “The Sky Is the Limit.”
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This man is a True Hero and I believe he single handedly helped me get on the path that I am on today. Many years ago, he took me out to lunch and let me pick his brain about real estate investments. In conclusion of that meeting, he was an open book. I cannot say enough about how amazing he was for our community. Fly High
Ralph Manley was the epitome of the greatest generation. He was a motivating instructor at SMSU when I was there in the early 80's and he continued to lead by example throughout his life. I suspect he never ran out of silver dollars for those he thought deserved one.
I knew Ralph when I was student at MSU in the early 70s. Those stories about silver dollars coming at you are true, I wish I had kept mine. What a gentleman in every since of the word. Our paths crossed professionally in the real estate world, banking and as a city councilman. Ralph always gave of 100% of himself with his teaching, business and community. While I don't know is family well I am sure he was a devoted family man too. Ralph's zest for life was contagious, all those that interacted with him always came away with a smile on their faces. May peace be with his family.
Ralph was a class act. Of his many attributes the one that stands out to me above all is that he was a man of his word. I feel fortunate to gave been able to know and interact with Ralph. A true gentleman.