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 politician and educator. He served as the 11th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare for President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977.
Mathews also served two times as the president of the University of Alabama. From 1981 to 2022, he was the head of the Kettering Foundation. This foundation studies how people can work together in a democracy. He has also written several books about how democracy works and about education.
Contents
Growing Up and School Days
Forrest 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. Later, he earned his PhD in history from Columbia University.
Mathews became president of the University of Alabama twice. His first term was from 1969 to 1975. He returned for a second term from 1977 to 1980. At 33 years old, he was the youngest president the university had ever had. During his time, he helped the university's football team become integrated. This meant that players of all races could join the team. This happened in 1971 under famous coach Bear Bryant.
Serving the Country
Mathews was the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). This was a big job in the U.S. government. He worked to help people trust the government more. He also tried to make rules and systems better.
When Mathews was sworn into his job, President Gerald Ford said he brought "the strength of youth" and "the skills of a scholar." He also noted Mathews's "trusted record of a successful leader."
Work with the Kettering Foundation
After his government service, Mathews became the president of the Kettering Foundation. This foundation is a non-profit group that does research. It was started in 1927 by Charles F. Kettering, who invented the automobile self-starter.
The 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 began to focus on democracy. They looked at how citizens can play a bigger role. Mathews joined the foundation's board in 1972. He became its president in 1981 and led it for over 40 years.
Awards and Recognition
Mathews has received many awards for his work. These include:
- Being named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men in the Nation in 1969.
- Becoming a member of the Alabama Academy of Honor in 1973.
- Receiving the Nicholas Murray Butler Medal in Silver from Columbia University in 1976.
- Being named Educator of the Year by the Alabama Conference of Black Mayors in 1976.
- Getting the Brotherhood Award in 1979.
He was also honored by the University of Alabama. In 2004, he joined their College of Communication and Information Sciences Hall of Fame. In 2006, he was inducted into 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
Mathews has written many books. They cover topics like education, how politics works, and solving problems around the world. 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)
- 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)
See also
- Mathews v. Eldridge
