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Walter P. Manning Jr., 80, founder of Emscor, Champion Elevators and Century Elevators, passed away in Friendswood, Texas on January 30, 2024.
Walter was born in Jefferson Barracks, Missouri in 1943 to Sgt Walter Paul Manning, Sr. and Naomi ‘Helen’ Manning (nee Jarvis).
Walter is a graduate of Milby High School’s Class of 1961 and attended the University of Houston. Walter was a Golden Gloves boxing Champion and a professional boxer until 1970.
Walter married Elaine Tate in 1966, he is the father of four daughters, Lesa Cegielski (David), Kathryn Thompson (Henry), Paula Manning (Eric Schmidt), and Sherran Manning (Zach Furrh). He is the grandfather of nine: Jessica Branson, Lauren Melchor (deceased), Joshua Melchor, Allison Thompson, Katie Thompson, Madeline Thompson, Megan Thompson, Alex Calles, and Mia Calles – with three great grandchildren: James, Lily and Parker. Niece Kristina Montes (Alex and Anabella Sunshine).
In 1974, Walter took a job with Heede International selling Alimak Hoists, thus beginning a career in the elevator industry that spanned almost fifty years and touched thousands of lives.
In 1976, lacking neither courage nor gumption, Walter started his first company, Emscor, Inc. – selling and renting Champ industrial elevators. In the 1980’s Emscor began distributing MAN Wolff tower cranes and manufactured the Atlas Elevator equipment. Always a master at identifying and attracting talent, he built a formidable and loyal team with Jim Jensen and Mike Massey and countless others, with whom he spent more than forty years going into battle shoulder-to-shoulder.
By 1991, the Emscor family of companies had expanded further with the purchase of manufacturer Champ Equipment Company in East Molene, Illinois. Relocated to Houston, Texas, Champion Elevators was born, with offices in Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Baltimore. This move created the only major American industrial elevator manufacturer, forever changing the landscape of an entire global industry. He indeed, was a disrupter.
Over and over Walter recognized the potential in people. He agitated, fostered, and mentored countless careers to unimaginable success. Walter always aspired to greatness, but his true legacy is that he inspired greatness in others.
Walter retired for the first time in 2005. After a long non-compete, and restless, he could no longer deny his entrepreneurial spirit, so in 2010 he began Century Elevators and made magic one last time. Walter retired in 2019 and spent his remaining years surrounded by friends, family, and his dogs.
We will be celebrating the life of Walter Paul Manning, Jr. in Houston, Texas, at Forest Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, located at 6900 Lawndale on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Viewing at 11:00 am, funeral service at 12:00 pm burial 1:00 pm with a reception to follow.
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