Manka, James Ashford, 1911-1970

Manka was born in Piedmont, Kansas, attended Wichita Public Schools, Wichita University, and received his law degree from Washburn University in 1936. He began practicing law in Wichita, and in 1940 joined the firm of Adams, Jones, Robinson and Manka. He was local and national president of the Metro Club, and served as president of the Wichita University Alumni Association. He chaired the Sedgwick County Republican Central Committee in the 1950's, and was a candidate for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor of Kansas in 1958. He described himself as a moderate and in 1963 was a charter member of the "Association for Republican Moderates" formed by a small group of Wichita Republicans. In 1960, he began serving as attorney for the Wichita Board of Education and continued in that position for eight years. During that period he was involved in decisions on disputes in districting and religion in the classroom.

From the guide to the Papers, 1929-1970, (University of Kansas Kenneth Spencer Research Library Kansas Collection)