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Rudy Mancke

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Rudy Mancke
Mancke at the South Carolina Educational Television 50th Anniversary Celebration, 2022
Born(1945-10-21)October 21, 1945
Atlanta, Georgia
DiedNovember 7, 2023(2023-11-07) (aged 78)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma materWofford College
Occupations
  • Educator
  • television host
  • naturalist


SpouseEllen Talbert
Children2

Rudolph Ernest Mancke III (October 21, 1945 – November 7, 2023) was an American naturalist, educator and television and radio host.

Early life

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Mancke was born in Atlanta, Georgia but grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina.[1] He graduated from Wofford College in 1967.[2]

Career

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After serving in the U.S. Army, Mancke was a high school teacher before being hired as South Carolina State Museum's first natural history curator in 1975.[3]

In 1978, Mancke co-hosted NatureScene with show creator Beryl Dakers, and later served as Executive Producer with co-host Jim Welch for the South Carolina Educational Television show on PBS. The theme music for the show was an arrangement of Spanish composer Francisco Tarrega's work, Estudio Brillante de Alard, retitled NatureScene Theme by guitarist Christopher Berg.[4] The show examined the natural world, and was taped in 50 states and ten countries, with funding from a variety of sources, including the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.[5][6] It aired in 200 markets across the US and in Canada.[7]

Mancke later produced Nature Notes with South Carolina Educational Radio, a series that ran for more than 20 years.[8]

Mancke held the post of Naturalist-in-Residence at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.[9][10] He was influenced by naturalist John Muir.[11]

In 1998, Mancke wrote a foreword for the book South Carolina Naturalists: An Anthology, 1700 - 1860, by David Taylor, published by University of South Carolina Press.[12][13]

He wrote a foreword for the book A Beachcomber's Guide to Fossils, by Bob Gale, Pam Gale and Ashby Gale, published in 2020 by University of Georgia Press.[14]

Honors

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In 1979, South Carolina Governor Dick Riley presented Mancke with a South Carolina Wildlife Foundation Communication Conservationist of the Year Award. In 2021, he received the organization's Lifetime Achievement Award.[15]

In 2015, Mancke was named Honorary South Carolina Statewide Master Naturalist by Clemson University Cooperative Extension.[16]

The McKissick Museum at the University of South Carolina launched the Rudy Mancke Curator of Natural History Endowment, in celebration of its 40th anniversary.[17]

Mancke received honorary doctorate degrees from the College of Charleston, Winthrop University and Wofford College.[18]

In 1993, Mancke was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, by Governor Carroll A. Campbell Jr.[19]

Death

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Mancke died, aged 78, on November 7, 2023, of liver disease.[20][21][22]

Legacy

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Mancke founded the South Carolina Association of Naturalists.[23]

South Carolina-based political cartoonist Robert Arial paid tribute to Mancke with a special cartoon.[24]

In 2024, Mancke was inducted into the South Carolina Hall of Fame.[25][26]

Notes

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  1. ^ Orr, Adam. "Walking with Rudy". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  2. ^ "Rudolph E. (Rudy) Mancke" (PDF). South Carolina Educational Television. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "The Nature Scene". Columbia Metropolitan Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  4. ^ "NatureScene - Blanchard Springs, Arkansas - Tour Stop #6". South Carolina ETV. February 11, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "South Carolina ETV/NatureScene funding credits". Mr. Gann. 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "Top 5 reasons to love NatureScene | Stories". South Carolina ETV. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ^ Holleman, Joey (January 13, 2002). "Rudy Mancke: A Natural History". The State Newspaper. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Rudy Mancke Celebrates Two Decades of 'NatureNotes'". South Carolina Public Radio. 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  9. ^ Gomez-Misserian, Gabriela (2023-11-09). "Friends, Fans, and Colleagues Remember South Carolina Naturalist Rudy Mancke". Garden & Gun. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  10. ^ "Rudy Mancke named USC's First Naturalist-In-Residence". greenville.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  11. ^ "South Carolina naturalist Rudy Mancke, who shared how everyone is connected to nature, dies at 78". AP News. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  12. ^ "Exploring Early Carolina's Natural Riches". S.C. Sea Grant Consortium. 2008-11-18. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  13. ^ Patterson-Rabon, Ann. "It doesn't take a scientist to appreciate the natural world of South Carolina". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  14. ^ "A Beachcomber's Guide to Fossils". Georgia Press. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  15. ^ "Remembering Rudy Mancke". South Carolina Wildlife Federation. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  16. ^ Bradley, Steven (2022-08-04). "Clemson Extension honors naturalists with statewide recognition". Clemson News. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  17. ^ "South Carolina remembers Rudy Mancke, naturalist in residence, after his passing". College of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  18. ^ "Rudy Mancke, host of SC Public Radio's NatureNotes and SCETV's NatureScene, dies at 78". South Carolina Public Radio. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  19. ^ "Order of the Palmetto Recipients" (PDF). South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  20. ^ "Rudy Mancke, former host of SCETV's NatureScene, dies at 78". wltx.com. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  21. ^ Brack, Andy (2023-11-11). "Brack: Remembering Rudy Mancke, everybody's cool uncle". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  22. ^ Montgomery, Bob. "Spartanburg native, SC icon Rudy Mancke dies at 78, remembered as 'giant of naturalists'". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  23. ^ "South Carolina Association of Naturalists". Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  24. ^ "ARIAIL: Tribute to Rudy". Statehouse Report.
  25. ^ Benson, Adam (January 16, 2024). "Boxer Joe Frazier, naturalist Rudy Mancke to be honored at SC Hall of Fame ceremony in Myrtle Beach". WBTW-TV. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  26. ^ "2024 South Carolina Hall of Fame Induction ceremony to take place Jan. 22 in Myrtle Beach". Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
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