[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 11, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1560]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN MEMORY OF RICHARD SAMUEL MANNE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN BENTSEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 11, 1996

  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of myself and my colleague 
from Houston, Congressman Gene Green, to remember a great civil rights 
and civic leader, Richard Samuel Manne, of Baytown, TX, who passed away 
on September 5, 1996. In his memory, we wish to include in the Record 
the following obituary that appeared in the Houston Chronicle. He is 
deserving of such recognition because of his personal commitment to 
ending discrimination in all of its forms and to working for civil 
rights and voting rights for all Americans. He will be sorely missed.

                    Obituary of Richard Samuel Manne

       Richard Samuel Manne, age 69, of Baytown, Texas, died on 
     September 5, 1996. Son of the late Geoffrey and Eva Manne of 
     Memphis, Tennessee. Manne was born October 19, 1926 in New 
     Orleans and grew up in Memphis. After graduating first in his 
     high school class at Memphis Central High, Manne won a full 
     scholarship to Yale University, from which he graduated with 
     honors at age 19. He then attended Vanderbilt University, 
     receiving a masters degree in chemical engineering. In 1947 
     he moved to Baytown to work for Humble Oil, and in 1948 he 
     married Beverly Maisel, who survives him. He retired from 
     Exxon in 1983 after working for 35 years at its research 
     center in Baytown. His research led to a variety of patents. 
     Having grown up in the Deep South, Manne hated discrimination 
     in all forms. In the 1950's and 1960's he worked as an 
     activist for civil rights and voting rights. He co-founded 
     and later chaired the Harris County Democrats, and founded 
     and published the Bi-Monthly Star, a political gazette. In an 
     era when Christmas parties at Exxon were racially segregated, 
     he refused to attend the ``whites only'' parties and instead 
     celebrated the holidays with black employees in the basement 
     of the research center. Through his work in politics, he 
     became interested in law and began attending South Texas 
     College of Law at night, while continuing to work for Exxon. 
     He graduated first in his class at South Texas, served as 
     editor-in-chief of the law review, and was asked to serve on 
     the faculty after graduation. He taught at the law school for 
     many years and served on its Board of Visitors. He also 
     founded the LSAT Review Course of Texas, and taught the 
     course for more than twenty years. After retirement from 
     Exxon, he expanded his private practice of law, which he 
     continued until his death. Manne was remembered by friends 
     and family at the evening service on September 6 at 
     Congregation K'Nesseth Israel in Baytown. In addition to his 
     wife Beverly, he is survived by his brother Henry G. Manne of 
     Arlington, Virginia; his sons Neal and Burton of Houston; 
     daughter-in-law Nancy D. McGregor of Houston; niece Emily 
     Manne of Atlanta, Georgia; nephew Geoffrey Manne of Chicago, 
     Illinois; grandchildren Benjamin, Elizabeth and Oliva Manne 
     of Houston; and several aunts and cousins.

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