February 2025 - 75

Brent Manley | 1947-2024
Longtime Bridge Bulletin editor Brent Manley died
Dec. 21 in Memphis. The 77-year-old Manley had lived
with dementia for the past several years.
Manley, who became managing editor of the magazine
under Henry Francis in 1989, was the executive editor
from 1997 to his retirement in 2014. In addition to his
role as magazine editor, Manley was the author/editor of
multiple books, including " The Official Encyclopedia of
Bridge (7th Edition), " and was a Daily Bulletin editor at
championships around the world.
After graduating from Loyola University with a journalism
degree, Manley began his career at The TimesPicayune
in New Orleans. He then served for two years in
Vietnam as a linguistics specialist in the U.S. Army. He
returned to civilian life to work for the Memphis PressScimitar
and later became an executive assistant and
speech writer for two Memphis mayors. In the mid-'80s,
Manley became a sports writer for the Houston Post,
where his intense knowledge and love of baseball shone.
And in the summer of 1989, he accepted an offer from
then-Bridge Bulletin editor Francis for the managing
editor position of the magazine.
During his tenure as executive editor, Manley oversaw
many developments and updates to the appearance of
the Bridge Bulletin, most notably the transition from a
digest-sized format to a full-size publication in 2003.
Manley wrote, co-wrote, ghost-wrote and edited
several books, including the latest edition of " The
Encyclopedia of Bridge, " " The Everything Bridge
Book, " " The Little Book of Bridge, " " At the Table: The
Autobiography of the World's #1 Rated Bridge Player
(with Bob Hamman), " " Tao Of Bridge: 200 Principles To
Transform Your Game And Your Life, " and " Precision
Today: Your Guide To Learning The System (with David
Berkowitz). "
Manley was an integral part of Daily Bulletin staffs
around the world. From the ACBL's North American
championships to major tournaments sponsored by
the European Bridge League and the World Bridge
Federation, Manley wrote and edited pieces on five continents.
One of Manley's favorite tournaments to work
was Australia's famed Gold Coast Congress.
Longtime press colleague and expert player Barry
Rigal said, " Brent was editor and contributor to many
world championship
bulletins, and we
worked around the
world, especially at
the Gold Coast with
David Stern for the
best part of a decade.
He also served as
awards secretary for
the International
Bridge Press
Association and generally
made my life
easier in that role for
about a decade.
" Over the years,
Brent put up without
criticism with my enciphered handwritten scrawls and
improved them as necessary. Softly spoken with a subtle
sense of humor, he rarely in my presence spoke ill of
anyone. He was generous as a writer and colleague. He
covered the novice and intermediate sections at various
tournaments and was rarely unable to find something
that glittered amongst the dross - a feat that would
have been beyond me. He was a kind, generous and
accomplished friend. Bridge will be the poorer without
him. "
A running enthusiast, Manley ran 57 marathons -
including one in each U.S. state - beginning in 1996.
His completed his first marathon, in Memphis, with a
time of 4:52. Manley's personal record occurred in 2000
in Duluth MN, where he completed the race in 4:27.
His final marathon was in 2018 in New York City with
a time of 8:40. Manley was also the co-author of " The
Everything Triathlon Training Book. "
Brent is survived by his wife, Donna Manley; daughter,
Colleen (Grayson, dec.) Wells; grandchildren Gabriel
(Hannah) Wells and Faith (Tyler) Wells; two sisters,
Angela (Paul) Garcia and Deborah (Kenny) Winters;
two brothers, Grant (Kristi) Manley and Donald (Cheri)
Manley; plus many cousins, nieces, nephews and
friends all over the world.
For a full obituary by the family, visit
everloved.com/life-of/brent-manley/ 2
February 2025 | Bridge Bulletin |
75
http://www.everloved.com/life-of/brent-manley/
February 2025

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