A former high school principal adored by students and staff alike, was remembered Wednesday morning in Pueblo.

Jim Manzanares was the principal of Pueblo Central High School for 11 years. He died unexpectedly in 2007. Wednesday, a memorial plaque was dedicated in his honor for all of the contributions he made to his students, the school and the community.

Manzanares was an educator in Pueblo for 37 years. He served as principal of Central High School from 1994 to 2005.

Imperial Memorial Gardens donated and dedicated the bronze memorial marker. The memorial will be permanently displayed in the school museum, which Manzanares founded during his tenure.

Imperial Memorial Gardens has also helped Manzanares' widow. She ordered a headstone for his gravesite in 2007 but never received it because the company went out of business. Imperial Memorial Gardens offered their help and were able to get a headstone for Manzanares' gravesite.