Knights of Columbus 2025 Family of the Year
TOOELE — Service is a way of life for the James and Debbie McManaman family, who were named the 2025 Utah Knights of Columbus Family of the Year at an awards banquet May 3. The McManamans are parishioners at St. Marguerite Catholic Church in Tooele, and James is the grand knight of Council 6739.
The McManamans have a blended family with six living children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. James’ two daughters and son live in Michigan. Another son, Douglas Patrick, died in 1990. Debbie’s three daughters live in West Valley and Tooele.
James has been a Knight of Columbus since 2001. He is currently serving a third term as grand knight of his council. Previously he served seven years as a state officer, and he is preparing to be the faithful navigator for his 4th degree assembly.
A cradle Catholic from Michigan, James McManaman became distant from the Church after his son died and he went through a divorce, he said. However, “When I moved to Tooele, I got back to it, and things started getting better, and I joined the Knights, and it makes me a better husband and a man and a Catholic,” he said.
The couple met shortly after he was transferred to Hill Air Force Base in 1994; they married the following year. A Tooele native, Debbie McManaman is a convert to the faith, having previously been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was baptized 34 years ago and was named this year’s St. Marguerite’s Parish Woman of the Year.
These days James serves as a property administrator for a government contractor at Dugway Proving Grounds. He hopes to retire in 2027; Debbie is already retired.
In their parish the two are co-chairpersons for the fall festival. They also organize the parish Easter egg hunt and serve as ushers, lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. James and Debbie have served for years as officers in the Knights of Columbus and the Council of Catholic Women, respectively. Debbie also sings in the choir, helps set up the altar, and attends daily Mass.
“It has helped me grow as a person,” Debbie said of her service. “It has made me believe that there are good things in life and to always look for the best. My faith and my community here have helped me through good times and bad times, and that’s what I believe that we’re put here to do – help serve God with no asking why.”
The couple is also involved in the community. Together they’ve organized a veterans breakfast and golf tournament, manage a baby cupboard, make handmade blankets for newborns and organize fundraisers for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
“I was raised where you had time, talent and treasures to give to the Lord, and my parents were very involved,” James said. “We just find time. Most of what we do when we’re not working, we’re together, whether it’s at the church, golfing or spending time with the family. Our family is very supportive, and we have them involved with our service as much as we can.”
Joining the family tradition of service, their 2-year-old great-grandson Waylon helped hand out the baskets at the Easter egg hunt this year.
The McManamans said they were surprised to be chosen as the Family of the Year.
“I was crying my eyes out when they called us up there, because there’s so many people that are involved with the Knights that sometimes I feel that they do more than we do, and [was] very humbled,” Debbie said. “And with Bishop [Oscar A.] Solis there, it was an amazing evening and so, so humbling. We don’t need that pat on the back; we just love doing what we do.”
The couple has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
“I think we’ll probably stay as busy as we are now, because it fulfills our life,” James said. “We do have family, friends and faith. We’re teaching the younger ones to step up.”
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