Gary Manson

1937 - 2023

Gary Manson

Dr. Gary Manson, age 86, of Haslett, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

Gary received his undergraduate degrees from the University of Montana and his master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1969. Upon graduation, Gary spent 36 years teaching and holding several academic leadership positions at Michigan State University’s Department of Geography, including chairing the Department during most of the 1980s. In the 1990s, he held various leadership roles, including director of the Landscape Architecture Program, and in 2000, was appointed associate dean for academic and student affairs at the College of Social Science.

Later in his career, his research focused on internal migration within the United States. He explored patterns, causes, and consequences of population movement within the country, publishing in journals such as The Professional Geographer, the Journal of Geography, and The Social Science Journal. Among his academic accolades, he received numerous awards for his contributions and mentorship, including MSU’s William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award, Teacher-Scholar Award, and Distinguished Academic Staff Award. Dr. Manson retired in 2006 as the acting dean of Social Science after a distinguished career at MSU.

Gary Manson was born on August 5, 1937, in Monona, Iowa. At the age of 19, he married his high school sweetheart, Patrosenia (Pat) Nonog, and they were happily married for 62 years until her death in 2018. They enjoyed each other’s company while traveling, fishing, cooking, entertaining friends, and loved MSU football and basketball.

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