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June 14, 1930 – March 22, 2014 Founder of Southland Printing, John Anthony Manno Sr.

May, 2014

Editor’s note: The following obituary was provided by Southland Printing Co. on the passing of its founder, John A. Manno Sr. He was a personal friend of mine, and a great supporter of Parking Today. In fact, he was our first advertiser and in every issue since our founding.

I knew him before PT, and found him to be smart, aggressive and attentive to detail. In one case, when he was trying to get the printing correct on a certain account, he came to the account personally and worked with them to get all the details right. He was a hands-on kind of guy.

He always had a smile for me, and was happy to chat at trade shows or on the phone. He did know what he wanted, and drove a hard bargain. However, he always kept to his word, and to his end of the deal. He will be missed. JVH

John Anthony Manno Sr., 83, beloved husband, father and grandfather, was called home to spend time with his heavenly Father on March 22, 2014. He will be dearly missed by family, friends and business acquaintances.

Funeral services were on March 26, 2014, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Shreveport, LA. Officiating were Msgr. Earl Provenza, Msgr. Carson LaCaze, the Rev. Charles Glorioso and the Rev. Joseph Kallookalam. Interment followed at Forest Park Cemetery on St. Vincent Avenue.

John, the youngest of nine children, was born on June 14, 1930, to Salvatore and Bianca Marie Manno in Brooklyn, NY. Growing up in New York, he began a lifelong pursuit of the printing trade. That was briefly interrupted when, in 1950, he answered the call to service in the U.S. Air Force. Fortunately for the Shreveport area, he was stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, where he served his country and received an honorable discharge in 1954.

During that time, he met the love of his life, Angelina. While still a serviceman, John worked weekends and nights, as he could, to further his printing career. During the late 1950s, John worked for a local printing establishment before striking out on his own. In 1960, he and his wife founded Southland Printing Company Inc.

It soon became apparent that Southland would specialize in printing for the parking industry. John developed many innovative products and under his leadership led Southland to become the premier producer of parking lot tickets and related items. Currently, Southland produces and ships tickets to all 50 states and over 50 other countries worldwide.

John was President of Southland Printing from its founding until December 2013, when he assumed the role of Chairman of the Board and appointed his son John Jr. as the new President.

John Sr. was an active member of many local organizations, including the North Shreveport Lions Club and the Krewe of Gemini; his churches, St. Pius X and Holy Trinity; the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre

of Jerusalem; and several parking organizations, including the

International Parking Institute, National Parking Association and the Parking Industry Exhibition.

There to greet him in Paradise are his loving parents, Salvatore and Bianca Marie Manno; his brothers Giovanni Manno, Albert Manno, Ray Manno, Peter Manno and Joseph Manno; his sisters Vincinza Manno, Nancy Skelly and Rose Larsen; and grandson Michael Peter Manno.

Left to cherish many memories are his loving wife, Angelina

Bruno Manno; son John Anthony Manno Jr. and his wife, Lynne Manno; grandson John Anthony “Jay” Manno III; and granddaughter Bianca Marie “Mary” Manno.

Serving as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers were Department Managers from Southland Printing Co.: Olen H. Ashby Jr., General Manager; Della Copp, Sales and Marketing Director; Mitchell J. Timmons, Controller; Carlos B. Cockerham, IT Manager; Dale A. Spoor, Production Manager; Donna G. Faulkner, Office Manager; Bobby Gene Atnip, Prepress Manager; Robert T. Saucedo, Pressroom/Flexo Manager; Robert W. Bryant, Pressroom/Web Press and Warehouse Manager; Brad K. Cooper, Maintenance Manager; and Richard Smith, Human Resources.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Hosea Austin Lewing, who worked with John at Southland for over 45 years, and for the past 1½ years served as John’s personal chauffeur; Barbara Jean Nixon, who served as John’s Administrative Assistant for over 20 years; all the family members of Southland Printing Co. for their long-standing devotion and support; and to Josie and AJ Lewis, Dominic and Cynthia Cordaro, and Chris and Bob Horne for their endearing friendship and support.

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Strand Theatre, 619 Louisiana Ave., #200, Shreveport, LA 71101; Shreveport Catholic Charities, 331 East 71st St., Shreveport, LA 71106; Shreveport Symphony, 619 Louisiana Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital , 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105; Volunteers of America, 360 Jordan St., Shreveport, LA 71101; or the John and Angelina Manno Scholarship c/o NSU Athletic Department, Natchitoches, LA 71497.


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