F. David Mathews facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
F. David Mathews
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| 11th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare | |
| In office August 8, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
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| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Caspar Weinberger |
| Succeeded by | Joseph A. Califano Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Forrest David Mathews
December 6, 1935 Grove Hill, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Independent |
| Education | University of Alabama (BA) Columbia University (MA, PhD) |
Forrest David Mathews (born December 6, 1935) is an American leader. He served as a top government official and also led a major university. From 1975 to 1977, he was the 11th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Gerald Ford. He also served as the president of the University of Alabama twice. Later, he led the Kettering Foundation, a research group, for over 40 years. He has written several books about how people can work together in a democracy and about education.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Mathews was born and grew up in Grove Hill, Alabama. He went to the University of Alabama, where he studied history and classical Greek. He earned his first degree in 1958. Later, he went to Columbia University and earned his PhD in history in 1965.
Leading the University of Alabama
Mathews became the president of the University of Alabama in 1969. He was only 33 years old, making him the youngest president the university ever had. He led the university during a time of big changes. One important event was the integration of the university's football program in 1971. This happened under the famous coach Bear Bryant. Mathews served as president until 1975 and then again from 1977 to 1980.
Serving in Government
From 1975 to 1977, David Mathews worked for the U.S. government. He was the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). This department no longer exists today. While at HEW, he focused on helping people trust the government more. He also worked on making government rules simpler.
When President Gerald Ford swore him into office, he praised Mathews. Ford said Mathews brought "the strength of youth" and "the skills of a scholar." He also noted Mathews' "trusted record of a successful leader."
Later Life and Work
After his time in government, Mathews became the president and CEO of the Kettering Foundation. This foundation is a non-profit research group. It was started in 1927 by Charles F. Kettering, who invented the automobile self-starter.
Focus of the Kettering Foundation
The Kettering Foundation first focused on science. But it later realized that big problems, like world hunger, are not just about science. They are also about how people work together. In the 1970s, the foundation started to focus on how citizens can be more involved in democracy. David Mathews joined the foundation's board in 1972. He became its president in 1981 and held that job for more than 40 years, until April 2022.
Other Leadership Roles and Awards
Mathews has served on the boards of many groups. These include the Gerald R. Ford Foundation and Public Agenda. He has received many awards for his work. In 1969, he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in the Nation. He also received the Nicholas Murray Butler Medal from Columbia University in 1976.
In 2004, he was added to the University of Alabama College of Communication and Information Sciences Hall of Fame. In 2006, he joined the Alabama Healthcare Hall of Fame. In 2007, a center for civic life in Alabama was renamed the David Mathews Center for Civic Life in his honor. He has also received 17 honorary degrees from different universities.
Books by David Mathews
David Mathews has written many books. His books cover topics like education, how government works, and history. Some of his books include:
- Why Public Schools? Whose Public Schools? (2003)
- For Communities to Work (2002)
- Politics for People: Finding a Responsible Public Voice (1999)
- Reclaiming Public Education by Reclaiming Our Democracy (2006)
- The Ecology of Democracy: Finding Ways to Have a Stronger Hand in Shaping Our Future (2014)
- With the People: An Introduction to an Idea (2020)
- Together: Building Better, Stronger Communities (2021)
See also
- Mathews v. Eldridge
