Henry Joseph McManus was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, on July 9, 1907.
He moved to London, Ontario, as a young man and started several companies, including McManus Petroleums, Imperialle Fuels, Red Star Gasoline, Sterling Fuels, Arrow Petroleum, CJOE & McManus Motors.
It was sold in 1972 and was torn down to make way for the City Centre Tower that now stands at the corner of Dundas and Wellington.
Joe McManus was one of the most prominent Catholic laymen in the London diocese and for his work and contributions on behalf of the church, he was invested as a Knight of the Magistral Cross of the Sovereign Order of Malta in 1958.
McManus died on January 7, 1976, as the result of an automobile accident that occurred on December 12, 1975, which also claimed the life of his wife, Bessie.