Ex-speaker McManus, 73, loses struggle with cancer
This article appeared in the Register-Herald on Dec. 19, 2002.By MANNIX PORTERFIELD
Lewis McManus, a coal mine clerk's son who rose to prominence as speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates three decades ago, died Wednesday afternoon in a Charleston hospital, losing a struggle with cancer. Close friend and one-time classmate Carroll Simpkins joined a wide spectrum in eulogizing McManus as one of the state's most effective political leaders in history.
Across the state, leaders were unanimous in saluting two universal traits of his character - honest and genteel.
"His character as a public figure was unfaltering, and his love for life and our state was immeasurable," Gov. Bob Wise said.
Wise said the former speaker dedicated his life and "directed his passions to promote all things that advanced West Virginia."
"Lew touched the lives of so many of us. He was such a kind and wonderful man. And we will all miss him."
A public relations official at Charleston Area Medical Center, Memorial Division, said the 73-year-old Beckley native was admitted Dec. 3, after watching a West Virginia University basketball game in Charleston.
His condition had deteriorated to the point Tuesday night that McManus gave up trying to talk and communicated by writing messages down in his room to Simpkins.
"He could speak, but it was labored," Simpkins said.
Unaware of the former speaker's illness and hospitalization until reached earlier Wednesday, Mrs. W.W. "Jackie" Withrow, a former delegate who served with him, said, "I feel real bad about it. I'm so sorry."
Withrow was elected with McManus to the House in 1964, along with Mary Martha Merritt and Anthony J. Sparacino, a former prosecuting attorney. That same year saw another Beckley resident, Hulett C. Smith, swept into the governor's mansion.
McManus became speaker on March 13, 1971, after Ivor Boiarasky's suddenly died the night before with a heart attack, on the next to last day the Legislature was in session.
Withrow, in fact, nominated McManus to fill the void.
"I knew Lew would be a good speaker, so I nominated him," she recalled.
"And he was a real good speaker. He was good in everything he did. He was a fair and good legislator. He always listened and he did a lot of research. That was the type of person Lew was."
McManus' first major test would come within a year when he was propelled into the Buffalo Creek flood disaster that claimed a known 125 lives in rural Logan County. His brief but impassioned speech, detailing the horrors left by the collapse of a coal mine impoundment, led delegates to set up a special appropriation to speed up recovery.
Withrow grew up in the same Mabscott neighborhood with McManus and has been an associate of his ever since.
"Lew took care of his mother for a long time, because she was sick," she said.
"Lew was always a gentleman and a kind person. I can't ever remember Lew being sick."
Simpkins, his wife Wanda, and McManus were in the same homeroom at the old Beckley Junior High School.
"Lewis was one of the most effective, even-handed, diplomatic political figures that I ever saw," the long-time accountant said.
"He could operate in stressful and confrontational situations. But he could bring some reason and that was his great stock in trade, I always thought. He was capable of bringing people together in the nature of Lyndon Johnson."
As Johnson often exhorted political combatants to "come reason together," McManus possessed the same ability to help those at loggerheads strike accord on difficult matters, he said.
"He did that from a position of absolute honesty," Simpkins said. "He was a totally honest fellow."
Born Sept. 8, 1929, he was the son of the late Mattie Ferguson and Joab L. McManus. An insurance and real estate agent, McManus graduated both from the former Beckley College (now Mountain State University) and the old Morris Harvey College, since re-named University of Charleston.
After winning his first term, McManus was re-elected to the House in 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1974. He served three terms as speaker.
McManus extended his public service life with an appointment May 1, 1977, as executive secretary of the Public Employees Retirement System.
In fact, in his stint on the House Education Committee, he played a key role in creating the PEIA, initially set up as a 50-50 program, with both employee and taxpayer putting up half the costs.
Another of his major strides came with the higher education grant program that made private schools eligible for assistance.
His first association with state government came while attending Morris Harvey, when he landed a job with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Upon leaving public life, McManus became an associate vice president of Charles Ryan Associates in Charleston.
McManus served as president of UC from 1988 to 1989 and was special assistant to the president of WVU from 1984 to 1988. He also served on a variety of boards for such organizations and agencies as the West Virginia Education Fund, Edgewood Summit Inc., the West Virginia Historical Foundation Inc. and The College of West Virginia (now MSU).
He held membership in the Raleigh County Mental Health Association, Beckley Concert Association, Citizens Scholarship Fund of Beckley, Sunrise Foundation of Charleston and the YMCA of Charleston.
McManus had steered the state Democratic Executive Committee's Platform Committee and was a delegate to two White House Conferences on Library and Information Services. In August, McManus was honored in Charleston as the recipient of the YMCA of Kanawha Valley's Spirit of the Valley Award.
A long-time champion of youth-oriented causes, McManus held a lifetime commitment to education and children, Simpkins said.
"When I talked to him last night, he told me, 'If you say anything about me, emphasize that I was always committed to education and to young people'," the accountant said.
"I'm very proud of him," said Simpkins, who had persuaded McManus to run for the House and even volunteered to act as his fund-raiser/campaign manager.
"He had a great life. He made a singular contribution to the state of West Virginia."
Memorial services are planned at 2 p.m. Saturday at the University of Charleston Whelre B. Geary Auditorium and 2 p.m. Sunday at the John E. Eye Center at MSU in Beckley. Melton Mortuary of Beckley is in charge of funeral arrangements.
'Outstanding citizen' recalled as gentleman
This article appeared in the Register-Herald on Dec. 19, 2002.By MANNIX PORTERFIELD
Oce Smith was fond of Lew McManus, even long before he was elevated to the powerful role as speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Only in one arena did they ever spar - money to run the House.
"Lew and I didn't always agree," the veteran sergeant-of-arms in the House reflected upon his death.
"He was very conservative fiscally. He didn't like to part with a dollar. We'd have a few rounds over that."
Aside from running a tight purse, Smith found no fault with his long-time friend and reacted with sadness to learn of his death.
Smith recalled how his friend performed admirably in a baptism under fire when thrust into the crucial speaker's role March 13, 1971, within hours after the unexpected death of Speaker Ivor Boiarsky on the next to last day of that year's session.
"He did a whale of a job keeping thigns going," Smith said. "And that wasn't easy for a while."
Smith, in fact, had the task of delivering the news of Boiarasky's death to McManus.
"He was honest and he was a gentleman," the sergeant of arms said.
"If that can be epithet, it can be a damn good one. Lew was perhaps one of the real gentlemen whoever served in the Legislature."
In Washington, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., a Raleigh County native himself, called McManus "an exemplary public servant, an outstanding citizen, and a dear friend.
"Lew and I both grew up in coal towns," the senator said.
"We both represented Raleigh County in the West Virginia House of Delegates. And we both shared an unabated love for the Mountain State."
The senator said the late speaker was blessed with "an indomitable spirit."
"Throughout his legislative career, he always put the good of West Virginia ahead of the good of political party," Byrd said.
"He valued personal trust and respect. And throughout his career, both public and private, Lew McManus was always a gentleman."
On the eve of the speaker's death, Byrd spoke with him.
"And I am happy that I had the chance to say goodbye," he said.
"Erma and I are very sorry to learn of his passing. We will always remember Lew McManus as a true friend and as a great son of West Virginia."
Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., in Beckley to meet with The Register-Herald's editorial board, learned of the death shortly before his interview.