Jerry Manlove

Jerry Manlove was born November 10, 1926, in Hibbing MN. Hibbing was a mining town and his dad worked in a mine. He had two brothers and three sisters. He was the middle child, the quiet one. When he was young it was so cold that the buses wouldn’t run so they had snowball fights all day long. They also built tunnels in the snow.

He moved to St. Paul when he was 10. Jerry spent his summers on his grandparents’ farm. His Grandpa was his hero. His Grandpa told him that he asked more questions than his brothers and sisters combined. No matter how many questions he asked his Grandpa never lost his patience.

When Jerry was 12 his Grandpa bought him a gray‐haired mustang. Her name was Dolly. He told him if he broke her, he could have her. His uncle helped him break Dolly by using Indian skills.

Jerry was the only child in his family that didn’t play an instrument. His parents said they could never get a ball out of his hands long enough for him to play one. This was the start of a life‐long love for sports. He even played football in college.

Jerry made a deal with his dad that if he graduated high school at 16, he could go into the Navy when he was 17. He accomplished that. In 1943 he went into the Navy where he drove a PT boat. The only exciting thing about being on the PT boat was being able to drive it. It was in the Navy that he became an adult. It was there that he had to make his own decisions.

After Jerry got out of the navy he went to five different colleges. He received a Liberal Arts degree in History and Physical Education, a graduate degree in Recreational Administration, and a Doctorate in Environmental Education.

Jerry had many jobs because he was curious and had lots of questions to answer. He had a job in St. Paul and Detroit in 1957‐1962 working at the Y where he integrated blacks and whites. Jerry was called lots of interesting names for the job he was doing. He believed people should learn to live together.

Jerry worked in the field of camping most of his adult life. This was an exciting thing for him because he liked to be around young people. He worked hard to break down barriers to find the good in people – not the differences.

Jerry and his wife and four children moved to Custer in 1980. He continued working as director of camps including Outlaw Ranch in Custer. He bought an old ranch west of town and named it Peniel Valley. “Peniel” is the place where Abraham wrestled with God, until he saw His face. It is a place where his family wrestles with God and ideas. Jerry wants to know what God is up to.

His favorite hobbies are reading, horseback riding, hiking, biking, watching and playing sports. One of his favorites is reading, because it allowed him to journey all around the world. In fact, he reads anything he can get his hands on. He even wrote a book, A Common Book of Camping. One was also written about him called Grab the Blessing.

Jerry’s most prized possession is his integrity. He believes it is important to always thank others, never hurting someone’s feelings, and always doing what is right. Peace and harmony in the world are also important. He wears the cross of the dove, a peace symbol. It reminds him how important it is to find peaceful resolutions.

It has been an honor to meet Jerry Manlove. He is a passionate man with many strong beliefs. He encourages us to respect others and believes we can do this by asking questions on the way.