Manny, Marcus Patrick (1985-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Mar 2 p. 16

Birth date: 1985 Oct. 7

text of obituary:

Tabor football player dies in crash

By Grant Overstake

Tabor College

HILLSBORO, Kan. — Marcus Patrick Manny, 23, a senior from Dallas and a kicker on the Tabor College football team, was killed Feb. 22 in a one-car crash on Interstate 35 near Tonkawa, Okla.

According to published reports, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said Manny was northbound about 6:15 p.m. when he ran off the road, overcorrected, hit an embankment and flipped his 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse.

Fellow students, faculty and staff gathered in the Chapel Auditorium Monday morning to grieve and pray for the Manny family. A campus-wide memorial service was planned.

"Our hearts are saddened, and we hurt in this great loss," said President Jules Glanzer. "Our minds are flooded with questions that will never be answered on this side of heaven. Our hope is in Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. Marcus knew Jesus and recently had made a significant commitment to Christ after a chapel presentation."

Manny was singularly responsible for one of the Bluejays' two football victories this season, kicking a game-winning 28-yard field goal against Southwestern College in Winfield with seven seconds left, securing a 32-29 victory.

Head football coach Mike Gottsch called Manny "a competitor in every sense of the word."

"Marcus was a tremendous senior leader for our young team," Gottsch said. "He was well respected by everyone for his persistence and positive nature. I will always remember him as a genuine caring, passionate and kind individual — and who was a fierce competitor but who competed with a smile on his face."

Manny played in 27 games for the Bluejays, made 62 of 82 extra point attempts and 16 of 34 field goal attempts, with a career-long field goal of 41 yards. He earned Honorable Mention all-KCAC honors this season.

Manny was born Oct. 7, 1985. His parents are Roland and Patricia Miranda.

According to published reports, Manny was pinned beneath the wreckage and died at the scene. The report indicates he was wearing his seat belt.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Mar 9 p. 12

text of obituary:

Services held for Tabor student

By Grant Overstake

Tabor College

HILLSBORO, Kan. — Funeral services were held Feb. 28 in Dallas for Marcus Patrick Manny, 23, a senior and a kicker on the Tabor College football team, who died Feb. 22 in a car crash.

An entourage of about 100 Tabor football coaches, players, students and administration officials traveled to the service on chartered buses.

The group presented Manny's framed No. 1 jersey to the family. It was prominently displayed on the platform during the funeral.

Manny's friends planned a campus memorial service,"A Celebration of Marcus' Life," Feb. 26 in the Chapel-Auditorium.

The ceremony began with students, faculty and staff filing into the chapel to the sound of some of Manny's favorite music and the sight of his picture projected onto the large screen.

Students read Scripture, sang and watched a video commemorating Manny's life, compiled in part by his roommate, Mario Nava of Peabody.

Although the evening's mood was somber, laughter could be heard amidst the crying as students told stories about the ways Manny had influenced them.

Attendees received cards printed with the outline of a white T-shirt, the item of clothing most associated with Manny. During a time of silence and meditation, students walked to the front to drop off the cards, on which they had written their memories of Manny. The cards were given to Manny's family.

Many people also went to Java Jays, the campus coffee shop, after the ceremony to share more memories of Manny, sign white T-shirts for the Manny family and decorate pages to be included in a scrapbook for the family.

While the accident report indicates Manny was wearing his seat belt, the Manny family has confirmed that their son was sending text messages on his cell phone and might have been distracted at the time of the accident.

"The Mannys have asked me to address the student body, pleading with them to stop texting while driving," said President Jules Glanzer. "They see this as a way for some meaning to come from Marcus' death."