Deceased: May 1990 Manuel was the first Hispanic student to receive a high school diploma from Toppenish High School (1949). After receiving his BA and Teaching Certificate from Central Washington, he was hired in 1955 by the Wenatchee School District where he was the 1st Hispanic teacher at Wenatchee High School. In 1956, Manuel initiated the Wenatchee High School Wrestling Program and coached for the first five years. Manuel became a wrestling official in 1960 and worked Washington state high school tournaments from 1961-1977. He was also instrumental in beginning the North Central Washington Wrestling Officials Association in 1960. The goal of the organization was to standardize wrestling rules and the officiating process. In 1966, Manuel officiated the NAIA National Tournament in Ellensburg. While attending Indiana University's masters program in 1966-1967, he joined the Indiana Officials Association and officiated a Big Ten match between Indiana and Illinois plus numerous high school tournaments. Manuel was appointed State Rules Interpreter by Washington Interscholastic Activities Association from 1967-69. He also served as Head Official for Washington State Wrestling Tournaments from 1967-69 and in 1975, officiated the NCAA Championship in Seattle. In 1985, Manuel was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame and also received the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Officials Award. He was named to the Wenatchee Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Wenatchee High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. In the final decade of his life, Manuel was debilitated by complications of diabetes. Although he lost both of his legs, two fingers, his eyesight, and was on dialysis three times a week, he was determined to write an autobiography based around his lifetime experiences in wrestling. When he could hardly see the keys on the typewriter, he wrote Knights of the Round Circle, published after his death in May 1990.