Patrick F. McManus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Patrick F. McManus
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| Born | August 25, 1933 Sandpoint, Idaho |
| Died | April 11, 2018 (aged 84) Spokane, Washington |
| Occupation | Columnist |
| Nationality | American |
| Subject | Humor, outdoors |
| Spouse | Darlene McManus |
| Children | Four daughters |
Patrick Francis McManus (born August 25, 1933 – died April 11, 2018) was a funny American writer. He mostly wrote about being outdoors and going on adventures. He had columns in popular magazines like Outdoor Life and Field & Stream. His funny stories were also put together in many books. His first book was A Fine and Pleasant Misery in 1978. His last book was The Horse in My Garage and Other Stories came out in 2012.
Contents
About Patrick F. McManus
Patrick McManus grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho. His dad passed away when Patrick was six years old. His mom, grandma, and older sister Patricia helped raise him. He often called his sister "the Troll" in his childhood stories.
His family didn't have a lot of money. They lived on a small farm near Sand Creek. They grew most of their own food. They also had chickens, a milk cow, and pigs. They often went hunting and fishing to get food.
Education and Career
After finishing Sandpoint High School, McManus worked different jobs. He saved enough money to go to Washington State University. There, he studied journalism. From 1960 to 1983, he taught English and writing. He taught at Eastern Washington University.
He was married to Darlene "Bun" McManus. They had four daughters together.
His Funny Stories
McManus mostly wrote about his outdoor adventures. Many of these stories were based on his childhood. He made up some characters for his stories. These included his old woodsman friend Rancid Crabtree. His childhood friends Crazy Eddie Muldoon and Retch Sweeney also appeared. He even wrote about his dog, Strange.
His stories are funny because they make things sound much bigger than they were. They describe his wild adventures in nature. McManus's writing is known for its dry humor. People have compared his style to famous writers like Mark Twain.
Other Books and Plays
His last published book was Circles in the Snow (2014). This was a mystery novel. It was part of a series about a character named Sheriff Bo Tully. McManus also wrote Kid Camping from Aaaaiii! To Zip (1979). This book gave tips for new campers. Whatchagot Stew (1989) was a cookbook and a memoir. A memoir is a story about his own life. The Deer on a Bicycle (2000) talked about how to write funny stories.
McManus also wrote five comedy shows. An actor named Tim Behrens performed these shows. Tim toured with them in many states. He performed the shows over 1600 times. In 2011, a book called "Where's the One About the Bobcat?" came out. It helped readers find their favorite McManus stories.
Fun Characters and Themes
McManus's shorter stories often had the same characters. They also had running jokes. These were in stories about his childhood and his adult life.
Childhood Friends and Mentors
One main character from his childhood stories was Rancid Crabtree. He was a colorful woodsman. He lived near Pat's childhood home. Rancid believed that washing would remove his "crust." He thought this crust kept germs out. Other characters included his best friend, 'Crazy Eddie' Muldoon. There was also his rough-and-tumble dog, Strange.
Adult Friends and Hobbies
As an adult, McManus wrote about his friends Retch Sweeney and Alphonse 'Al' Finley. He also wrote about his rich friend Fenton Quagmire. A big part of his stories was his love for hunting and fishing. For him, it was mostly an excuse to enjoy being outdoors. His friends also liked hunting and fishing. But they weren't always very good at it!
McManus often joked about people who knew too much about sports. He called gun fans "gun nuts." He found their detailed talks about guns a bit boring. He just wanted to go on a good hunting trip.
Characters in His Novels
Some of these ideas appeared in his longer books too. Bo Tully, the main character in the Bo Tully Mysteries, shared McManus's views on guns. As a sheriff, Tully used guns and knew about them. But he wasn't overly excited or sentimental about them. He knew that many people were, though. This even became an important part of the plot in one of his mystery books.
