During 50 years of teaching political science, Manning Dauer influenced more than 15,000 students, including U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.

After receiving his doctoral degree from the University of Illinois in 1933, he returned to UF in 1933 as an instructor.

He remained at UF until his retirement in 1980 except for a period of service in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He was named a distinguished service professor at UF in 1972 and was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree in 1983.

Dauer is best known as the principal articulate of the 1967 reapportionment plan for Florida, which was mandated by a federal district court (see Swann v. Adams).