County of bench: Warren County
Location of bench: Public Square, Central Park, Monmouth
Bench Text:
IN MEMORY OF PATRICK McMANUS
MAYOR 1979 - 1993
"PATRICK L. MCMANUS III
1948-2008 • Obituary
"MONMOUTH - Patrick L. McManus III, age 59, of Monmouth, passed away Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, at his residence.
"He was born Nov. 20, 1948, in Portland, Ore., the son of Patrick L. and Mona Simpson McManus. Pat graduated from East Aurora High School in East Aurora, N.Y. He then graduated from Monmouth College in 1971 with a B.A. degree in business. While in college, Pat worked as a volunteer at the Warren Achievement Center, where he met his future wife. He took the first group of Special Olympians to the Illinois Olympics in Chicago. He also organized a Boy Scout troop for the developmentally disabled. He married Valerie on April 3, 1971, in Monmouth. She survives.
"After college Pat became a district executive for the Boy Scouts of America, Galesburg Council, setting up troops throughout the area. Pat then went to work as a motorcycle salesman at Leisureland, helped to develop Sandy Oaks MotoCross Track and sponsored a motocross race team. Later, Pat became a manager of Monmouth Oil Company. Pat was appointed first ward alderman of the Monmouth City Council in 1976. He was then elected alderman in 1977. Pat was appointed mayor pro tem in 1979. He was elected by the people of Monmouth in 1981 and re-elected in 1985 and 1989.
"Throughout his tenure in office, Pat was able to attract dedicated professionals to serve and was able to bring grant money to the city of Monmouth in order to address problems in areas such as rehabilitation of housing, community services, waste water management and transportation. Additionally, while mayor, Pat did extensive work with HUD and IDFA. He was a member of the Western Illinois Mayor's Association. He left office in 1993.
"After his mayoral duties, Pat utilized his entrepreneurial skills, opening Maple City Manufacturing (MCR) and then Vending Remanufacturing Incorporated (VRI). Later, Pat worked for CR England Regional Trucking, where he trained various new drivers and ended his career with JRRW Transport based in North Liberty, Iowa.
"Pat loved NASCAR, football, specifically the Chicago Bears, the 6 a.m. coffee group, the Rocky Mountains and traveling, especially Jackson Hole, Wyo. Most of all, Pat loved spending time with his grandchildren and family.
"Pat is survived by his wife, Valerie McManus of Monmouth; his son, Patrick IV (Karen) McManus of Harvard; one daughter, Amanda (Francisco) Maez of Centennial, Colo.; two grandchildren, Hannah Grace and Joshua Patrick McManus of Harvard; and one brother, Kevin C. (Nellie) McManus of Point Pleasant Beach, N.J. Also surviving are one niece and three nephews and extended family.
"He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Kathleen McManus Nevins." ~ Galesburg Register-Mail