Caroline Bryant & Joseph Stanziani
Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer
Professor of Citrus Science. Program Coordinator. John and Ruth Tyndall Chair in Citrus Sciences. Beholder of a President’s Volunteer Service Award. The king of FSC citrus Dr. Malcom Manners will retire at the end of the school year after 44 years of service.
Manners’ fascination with the world of plants and horticulture started at a young age.
“My parents were always gardeners and I’ve had an interest in plants my whole life; I’ve no idea when it started, I can’t remember not being interested in growing things,” Manners said.
While he attended Anderson College and received his Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Chemistry, he longed to return to his roots.
“I guess thinking of it as a career, when I went to college I planned to become a biochemist and took a lot of biochemistry which I enjoyed,” Manners said. “But, I realized that wasn’t really where my heart was. I like horticulture and I’ve worked at [plant] nurseries all my life.”
Manners’ revelation inspired him to earn his master’s degree in fruit crops/tropical fruit physiology and a Ph.D in Horticultural Science from the University of Florida.
Yet, his time at Anderson would not go to waste. Manners attributes this desire to teach to professors he met during his undergrad years. By the time Dr Manners went to UF, he knew teaching was something he wanted to pursue professionally.
At UF, he discovered that most larger universities predominantly focused on research rather than teaching. Manners was drawn to FSC due to the intimate teaching environment. He’s stayed since 1981.
“You might have 400 people in a room and I wanted a place where they emphasized teaching and would have small enough class sizes that you could get to know your students,” Manners said. “I didn’t know of such a place that had agriculture, but one of my graduate committee members was a graduate of Florida Southern and he said ‘Why don’t you check out Florida Southern,’ so I did.”
Manners has also advised FSC’s chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho, a social-professional agricultural fraternity, for over 20 years. Many in the fraternity are in the citrus program and help Manners tend to the campuses’ various rose gardens, greenhouses and citrus trees.
In an interview with the college, Manners stated that FSC’s Ruth Rose garden inhabits over “300 plants of nearly 200 varieties.” It is also one of two collegiate gardens where the rose mosaic virus is cured using the heat therapy method, providing disease-free roses to over 20 nurseries worldwide.
His dedication to rose health was recognized in 2013, anointed the Greatest Rosarian in the World. A rose species was also named in his honor. According to Angel Gardens Organic Rose Nursery in Alachua, Florida, the Dr. Malcolm Manners Rose is “pink, darker reverse [with] brown shading.” It reaches full bloom at 26-40 petals.
Outside of school, Manners also received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for his volunteer efforts with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The college states that he’s participated in 14 volunteer missions since 1996, helping developing countries in Europe, Africa and Asia tackle poverty “through education on better crop production methods.”
His passion for world travel is translated into his Junior Journey programs. Manners has shown students Alaska, Scotland and South Africa. According to the Citrus Industry Magazine, he’s also brought students to California and Brazil to study their citrus industries.
Manners is known as a legend at FSC. Those who’ve known him for the past 44 years have praised him for his mastery of the field and his ability to provide students with unforgettable experiences.
“Dr. Manners has a way of guiding and teaching that makes a lasting impression that will stick with you forever,” Cody Lastinger ‘13 told Citrus Industry Magazine. “He has molded the minds of many leaders in the citrus industry with his time and dedication to the citrus program at Florida Southern College.” Lastinger credits Manners for developing his passion in the field, now an AgriEdge Specialist at Syngenta.
Lastinger’s sentiment shines through, as Manners attributes his most memorable moments to seeing the success of his students post-graduation.
While he hasn’t confirmed retirement plans, Manners wishes to continue writing and traveling. But no matter where he goes, Manners’ legacy will be planted into the citrus program and FSC forever.
