(Deceased: 31 January, 1953)

At the time of his death, Will R. Manier, Jr., was a lawyer in Nashville, Tennessee. He was educated at Vanderbilt University and Law School, and at the United States Naval Academy, and in 1908 was admitted to the bar of the State of Tennessee. During World War I, he was commissioned an Infantry officer and received the Distinguished Service Cross.

He was a charter member and President of the Rotary Club of Nashville, which was organized in 1913. He had served Rotary International as President (in 1936-37), Director, District Governor, Rotary Foundation Trustee, and as committee chairman and member, and had been given credit for the statements of Rotary policy in Community Service and International Service activities.

Mr. Manier was recognized as an expert on military affairs and during World War II, he had conducted weekly radio broadcasts which interpreted developments on the battle fronts. Under the auspices of the Watkins Institute, he had also conducted a weekly public forum for the discussion of topics of current interest. He was Chairman of the State War Services Council, Commissioner of the Boy Scout Council for Middle Tennessee, Coordinator of State Agencies in Disaster Relief for the Red Cross, and Coordinator of the Civilian Defense Program of the State of Tennessee.

From Rotary International,

35 East Wacker Drive,

Chicago 1, Ill., U.S.A..

March 1954.

Joe Caulder Remembers

WILL R. MANIER, JR.

Bill was President of Rotary in 1936-1937 and had a notable year.

However, he was known by Rotarians the world over before 1935 as for years he had been a leading figure in his District and at numerous Conferences and at International Conventions.

Perhaps he will be remembered most of all as the author of the famous resolution 34 which he presented at the St. Louis Convention in 1923. The original resolution, as passed, is shown on the next page. There have been minor amendments since but the original resolution which charted Rotary's course, still remains in essence as written by Bill at that convention.

Bill Manier loved Rotary and his vision for Rotary's future was wide and far reaching. He always fought hard for what he truly believed and would oppose friend or foe at any time on any subject that effected Rotary in the Clubs, Districts, the U.S. and worldwide. He fought for the right of the Clubs to control Rotary and against centralization.

Bill had an important part in bringing the British Association of Rotary Clubs into Rotary International. If he ever erred in stressing a point it was because of his love for Rotary with no thought of personal prestige.

He was a topnotch lawyer. One day in Edmonton, Alberta, when it was 40̊ below zero I ran into Bill at the MacDonald Hotel. Four hundred miles north of Edmonton the Alaska Highway construction headquarters was located at Dawson Creek. There was a tremendous explosion and millions of dollars of damage resulted. Bill was there to fight the cause of the contractor and as might be expected, he won his case and the blame was fixed on the U. S. Army. In talking with Bill that day I could see the same determined fighting spirit for that contractor which he showed at his last Convention in Mexico City in fighting for what he deemed was the correct course for Rotary.

Bill left us on January 31st, 1953 and the loss was great.