Roy H. Manly, Sr.

(1896–1981)

Taken from IAMPETH’s The Penman’s News Letter, Volume 14, Number 3, October 1981.

''AND WE HAVE WONDERED IF YOU KNEW HOW GLAD WE ARE AND THANKFUL TOO THAT OUR PATHS MET AND WE FOUND YOU”

This expresses Roy's sentiments about the penmen in the Penmen's Association (IAMPETH). In his early teens he became enamored with Ornamental Penmanship and became an ardent subscriber to the "Educator'' (a Zaner-Bloser publication). Ornamental Writing became his hobby, constantly striving for improvement, never tiring of practice from day to day.

The first convention that he and Lucile attended was in Bedford, Pa. in 1965. Attending each year thereafter through 1980, he was President in 1968. Through the years as he taught Ornamental Penmanship at the Convention, his enthusiasm was contagious, and many honors were conferred upon him.

Always eager to learn, he picked up the art of Engrossing through his associations with the Penmen's Convention. He used this art in various ways - through his church affiliations, penning names in Bibles, on certificates and on memorabilia for friends. A practicing Attorney in Birmingham for 60 years, he was a Shakespearian scholar. A favorite passage was:

"HE WAS A MAN, TAKE HIM FOR ALL IN ALL, I SHALL NOT LOOK UPON HIS LIKE AGAIN."

A Specimen of Roy’s Engrossing

Roy’s Ornamental script penned at over 80 years of age!

Return to the Penmen Archives

Home