| Biography
Tom has been around square dancing all of his life. His
parents, Lee and Lucy Manning had been dancing many
years before Tom was even born. As he grew up, instead
of getting a babysitter, Tom went along to the dances
and sat on the sidelines just watching everyone else
dance. One night at the Circle Square B Square Dance
Club in Burlington they were starting a beginners’
class. For some reason there were about two squares of
youth there with their parents. When Lee asked Tom if
he wanted to take lessons, Tom didn’t know any better
and said yes. That was in September of 1970 at the age
of 8, and has been in the square dance activity ever
since.
Dancing wasn’t enough for Tom. In the fall of 1974
Don Roberts, a caller from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was
calling a dance at the club with Tom in attendance.
After one of Don’s tips, Don started talking to Tom and
told him, he danced just like a caller, and gave him a
record to learn. The calling bug had hit. By the
spring of 1975 and at the age of twelve Tom was calling
guest tips around Southeast Iowa.
Tom called full time for about 15 years starting in
1984. He traveled extensively from California to
Florida doing dances, weekend and festivals. Tom has
called in approximately 40 states, including Hawaii.
His travels have also taken him to Canada and Mexico.
He now tries to stay closer to home as his family has
become his number one priority. He calls for a plus
club, the Circle Square B Promenaders in Wever, Iowa and
has an advanced workshop group in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
Although Tom has limited his travels, he will call
specials and festivals on weekends a little farther from
home. Tom owns and produces Solid Gold Records and is
partner with Bob Asp in Solid Gold Sound, providing
sound for State Conventions and area festivals. He has
also recorded on Cross Country, Chicago Country, and
Yellow Rose records. He is also a member of CALLERLAB
serving on the Mainstream and Plus committees and a
member of the Southeast Iowa Callers Association having
held every office.
Tom graduated from Western Illinois University in
1984 with a Bachelor in Business and is Currently
working on getting a Masters in Education at Ashford
University. Tom hopes to return to teaching to help get
modern square dancing back in the schools.
Tom married his high school sweetheart, Ella in
1983. Their dates consisted of going to Tom’s dances
and lessons. That is how Ella learned to square dance.
She has been employed by General Electric since 1995.
They have three lovely daughters, Sara 18 going off
to Culver Stockton College in August 2006 and majoring
in Elementary Education, Amanda 16 a junior at
Burlington Community High School and Ashley, 11 a 6th
grader. All three square dance and enjoy attending the
National Convention and meeting boys from all over the
country. They also take ballet, tap, and acrobats and
are busy with school activities, band, cheerleading, and
basketball.
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