David Manuel, co-author of the 1980 U.S. history classic The Light and the Glory (Revell/Baker Publishing Group), died April 25 at his Tulsa, Okla., home, according to his wife, Shelli. He was 76.

A graduate of Yale University, Manuel's writings on history and the Bible have been used by many Christian leaders and educators. Manuel co-wrote The Light and the Glory, about America's Christian heritage, with Peter Marshall, with whom he co-authored another best-seller, From Sea to Shining Sea (Revell/Baker Publishing). His more than 20 books also included Like a Mighty River (Rock Harbor Publishing); The Jesus Factor (Logos International); and Once Upon a Prayer (McDougal Publishing).

Manuel worked for a division of Doubleday for eight years. He also founded Awakening Books, was co-founder of Logos Publishing and founder of Rock Harbor Publishing. For his literary achievements, Manuel was knighted in 2009 on the Queen Mary in the oldest European order of Constantine. A graduate of the Screen Writing Academy of Movieguide, Manuel was working on a last project about George Washington.

Before becoming an author, he also served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Air Force, where he logged 2,600 hours of flight time on patrols and stopped a Russian war maneuver.

Manuel is survived by his wife; daughter, Blair; four granddaughters; a sister; and a brother. His funeral will be held Saturday, May 4, at Victory Christian Center in Tulsa, with military honors, and he will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

Another memorial service will be held for Manuel later this month at the New Testament Church in Plymouth, Mass., and there will be a May 30 memorial reception for him in Washington, D.C., at the National Press Club.

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