The Southern Arkansas University System Board of Trustees met on December 7, 2024. During this meeting, a resolution was approved to bestow a name to Southern Arkansas University Tech's (SAU Tech) Administration Building in honor of Gaye and Gerald Manning. In recognition of the outstanding service provided by the Mannings, this building has now become the Gaye and Gerald Manning Administration Building, also known as Manning Hall.
Mrs. Gaye Manning started her career at SAU Tech on November 6, 1984, as Accountant 1/Personnel Officer. After that, she was promoted to Controller and Chief Financial Officer before becoming the Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration. She served in the Vice Chancellor position for twenty-two years. In May 2023, Mrs. Manning became appointed to the position of Interim Chancellor.
Gerald Manning started his career at SAU Tech as a Maintenance Supervisor on October 1, 1981. He received a promotion to Assistant Director of the Physical Plant in 1995. Just a couple of years later, on July 1, 1997, he became Director of the Physical Plant. He served in that position until his retirement on June 30, 2016.
Over the decades they served SAU Tech, many improvements were made, including: the designation of SAU Tech as a military friendly campus, the approval of numerous academic programs, the creation of NJCAA men and women's basketball, NJCAA softball and baseball, the addition of choir, the renovation and expansion of the student center, new constructions and renovations at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy, construction of the Arkansas Environmental Training Academy Lab, as well as renovations to the historic and newly appointed Manning Hall through grants procured from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council.
Mr. and Mrs. Manning have served SAU Tech for thirty-four and thirty-nine years, respectively.