Had it not been for the welcoming atmosphere of the Jaffrey community and the fact that he had kids, Joe Manning might not have become the community leader that he is today.
“Having been raised in a city, I was taken aback at how easy it was to get get involved in the community, especially with kids in the local school district,” said Manning, who was just announced as the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Citizen of the Year.
Manning will be honored as Citizen of the Year at the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting on Feb. 17 at the Shattuck Golf Club in Jaffrey. For tickets or more information or reservations, contact Becky Newton at 532-4549 or email info@jaffreychamber.com.
Manning’s accomplishments in town are numerous and far-reaching since he came to town in 1955. Manning has served on the Fire Department, Zoning Board, Budget Committee and VFW Ambulance crew, and has participated in the Lions Club, Park Theatre, Rotary Club, TEAM Jaffrey, the Festival of Fireworks, and more.
“At 90 years old, this is a long overdue recognition,” said Susan Peterson, chair of the selection committee. “It’s amazing that he has continued to play an active role in the community over the years.”
When asked of accomplishments that he is most proud of, one thing Manning pointed to was his service as a member of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 2004.
“Much like anyone else, I had an ax to grind, which was how the state handled the mentally ill,” said Manning, who admitted he wanted to get involved because one of his daughters suffered from a serious mental illness for 30 years.
While Manning has affected change in town and at the state level over his years of service, he will also be remembered by those in the community for his humanity, friendship and love of Jaffrey.
“He was always involved with the kids in the neighborhood and coached our pickup baseball and football games,” said former neighbor Nancy Bishop, who grew up with Manning’s kids. “I will always think of Mr. Manning as our neighborhood father. He is well loved by his family and many of us who are blessed to know him.”
While Manning was honored to receive the award, he admits the award was also quite unexpected.
“I wasn’t doing anything unique at all, I was just another citizen,” said Manning. “I was just one of a whole lot of people.”
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.