Remembering Our Esteemed Colleagues

Farewell to beloved faculty members Nate Folland and Tom Manney

The department mourns the passing of Professor Nathan Folland and Professor Thomas R. Manney, both of whom passed away in 2024. Nate and Tom dedicated decades of service to the department as faculty members, leaving a lasting impact on its teaching, research, and service missions, and on their respective fields.

Thomas R. Manney

Tom was born in El Paso, Texas on December 20, 1933. After completing a PhD at University of California in 1964, he held postdoctoral positions at Oak Ridge National Labs, Case Western Reserve University, and UC Berkeley, he accepted a dual appointment in Physics and Biology here at K-State. He did groundbreaking research in yeast genetics before turning to science education work in collaboration with his wife of 68 years, Monta, late in his career. Tom began working with the physics education research group and Dean Zollman in the 1980s. He inspired teachers in the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science (KATS) and through the Genetics Education Network Extension program.

Retirement let Tom pursue more passions including designing and helping building his family's passive solar home in the Flint Hills. He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Monta; four daughters: Natalya Lowther and Gloria Ruth, and Namaste Manney and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Nathan O. Folland

Nate was born in Greenbush, MN on January 12, 1937. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 1959 and went on to earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Iowa State University in 1965. After a N.A.T.O. Fellowship in Messina, Italy, he took a position as assistant professor of physics here at K-State in 1966 where he spent his career teaching, theorizing, and publishing. He retired in 2000 as Professor Emeritus.

Nate retired to St. Augustine with his wife, Angel. He died in St Augustine, FL August 7, 2024, of heart and lung failure complicated by Lewy body disease. He is survived by Angel and his son Jonathan and daughters Elizabeth and Meredith.