An army veteran, Dr. Manners earned his bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech Evening School of Commerce in 1935 (now Georgia State University's J. Mack Robinson College of Business), his MBA in economics from the University of Georgia in 1946 and his doctorate in history from Emory University in 1959.

From his earliest days at Georgia State, Dr. Manners constantly fought to raise standards not only in the business program, but also in the institution as a whole. He used the needs of his students in business to force major improvements in the arts and sciences curriculum. As a result, it has often been said "from the School of Business Administration sprang an entire university."

But Dr. Manners was not through. He next tackled the conventional wisdom that education offered to working individuals could not achieve the same standards of high quality associated with full-time, day programs. His tireless efforts in that regard led to acceptance of the concept of a unitary program that featured the same courses, same faculty and same standards regardless of when it was offered. This in turn led to what could be considered the crowning achievement of Dr Manners' career - the full accreditation of the College of Business Administration at Georgia State University.

So strongly did Dr. Manners believe in the importance of evening programs in a changing society that he headed a special ad hoc committee for AACSB, the business college accrediting organization. His group, the Committee on Evening Standards, had an immediate impact and helped bring programs for working professionals nationwide to the level of excellence and respect they enjoy today.

Dr. Manners, according to Dr. William S. Patrick, vice president for student services and professor of business administration emeritus, "is especially remembered for his ability to recruit faculty of national renown. Through personal sacrifice, he brought to Georgia State Ken Black, Eli Zubay, Mike Mescon and many others who made significant contributions to the College of Business and its national and International reputation."

There is much more to the story of George Manners, but nothing is more telling than the words of William Suttles, former Georgia State president and provost, who said "George Manners' contagious enthusiasm and creativity had an immense impact on others throughout the country... and his impact on standards and broadened opportunities for quality education will be felt for many years to come."