JAMES MCMANUS

McMANUS--James R.

Marketing Pioneer, dies at 84. James R. McManus, founder in 1971 of Marketing Corporation of America, died Wednesday, January 10th at his home in Fairfield, CT. McManus' undaunted courage and spirited attitude guided him until the end. We will remember him for his boldness, passion for adventures and his generosity to people far and wide. He has left a lasting mark for all those who knew him and he will be greatly missed and remembered by his family and friends. McManus created the first integrated marketing services firm positioned to serve Fortune 50 consumer marketing companies. Between 1971 and 1997, it grew to be a $500mm enterprise whose clients included Pepsico, Frito-Lay, IBM, Quaker Oats, Lipton, Procter & Gamble, Lorillard, Federal Express, SAAB, and Dunkin Donuts. Its services included strategic consulting, market research, advertising (Ally-Gargano, Inc.), sales promotion programs and venture capital. MCA was sold to The Interpublic Group in 1997. Other business interests included BMW auto dealerships, Business Express Airlines and the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado, which McManus bought in 1985 and created an authentic James Eastlake Victorian restoration. Opened in 1889, the Jerome is a National Historic landmark. McManus sold the hotel in 2005. McManus was married to the former Betty A. Strandberg and maintained homes in Aspen, CO, Key Biscayne, FL and Fairfield, CT. Together Betty and Jim have seven children, Robert, Melissa, Stuart and Mitchell McManus and Karl, Kurt and Eric Soderlund and twelve grandchildren. McManus was a life trustee of Northwestern University; a graduate of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and during the 1980's funded the McManus Living and Learning Center for the Kellogg School and the Nicolet Football Center for the University. McManus' undergraduate degree was from the University of Wisconsin- Madison, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus and a Bascom Scholar. McManus began his business career with Procter & Gamble in 1956, served in the USAR where he retired with the rank of Captain, and worked for the Glendinning Companies before founding MCA in 1971. Services were private. Memorial gifts may be made in Mr. McManus' honor to The McManus Center, Kellogg School of Management, Attn: Northwestern University, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 800, NY, NY 10020, or online at wewill.northwestern.edu, specifying "McManus Center, Kellogg Student Programs."