Allen Manning joined the WFAA family on March 12, 2018.
He left us far too soon - on March 10, 2020.
Manning was WFAA’s managing editor.
While our viewers didn’t see his face or hear his name on television or online, anyone who watched WFAA felt his presence.
As the newsroom’s managing editor, Manning focused on logistics. He had what many consider a difficult and thankless job – trying to cover as much news as possible across North Texas with a staff that wasn’t ever as large as he would have liked.
But he made it happen.
He willingly took on the hardest of tasks and never spoke a cross word.
Manning, 57, made a career of journalism and worked in television newsrooms across Texas – from Houston to Dallas.
He spent more than 20 years working in KTVT’s newsroom as an assignment editor before joining the WFAA family.
“I believe that God took an angel today,” said WFAA senior reporter Rebecca Lopez.
Manning openly shared his faith and would often pray for or with his colleagues.
“The best thing you can do for a person is care for them in times of need and he did that for so many people for so many years,” said KTVT reporter J.D. Miles, a longtime colleague of Manning’s.
Manning loved to write. He frequently posted poems on his social media accounts and from time to time would email his poetry to the entire newsroom.
He was a Sunday school teacher. He was a graduate student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
He loved baseball, especially the Houston Astros.
He also loved people. When he asked how you were doing, he genuinely wanted to know and listened to your answer. He was kind to everyone whose path crossed his.
Manning’s wife of 31 years, Teena, recently battled cancer. Her husband was by her side for every step of her journey.
WFAA sends its deepest condolences to Teena and to all who knew and loved this special person.
Each of us is better because we knew him.
