Forrest David Mathews
| Forrest David Mathews | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 11th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare | |
|
In office August 8, 1975 – January 20, 1977 |
|
| President | Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Caspar Weinberger |
| Succeeded by | Joseph A. Califano, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 6, 1935 Grove Hill, Alabama |
| Political party | Unaffiliated |
| Alma mater |
University of Alabama (B.A.) Columbia University (Ph.D.) |
Forrest David Mathews (born December 6, 1935) served as the 11th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare from 1975 to 1977, during the administration of President Gerald R. Ford. He also served two nonconsecutive terms as the president of the University of Alabama. Since the 1980s he has been president and chief executive officer of the Kettering Foundation. He is the author of several books on democratic practice and education.
Mathews was born and grew up in Grove Hill, Alabama. He attended the University of Alabama (AB in history and classical Greek, 1958) and Columbia University (PHD in history, 1965). Mathews was president of the University of Alabama 1969–75, 1977–1980, an era of significant change and innovation. At age 33, Mathews was the university's youngest president. He presided over the integration of the university's football program under Hall of Fame coach Bear Bryant in 1971.
"resignation last year of University of Alabama president David Matthews following a vote that showed little faculty support for him. " January 15, 1981 The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama · Page 1
Mathews is one of only two surviving secretaries of the now defunct Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (the other is his successor, Joseph A. Califano, Jr.). While at HEW, he worked on restoring public confidence in government and reforming the regulatory system. At his swearing in as secretary of HEW, Gerald Ford said, “Mathews brings to this new mission the strength of youth, a sense of purpose, the skills of a scholar, and the trusted record of a successful leader and administrator. That is an impressive inventory by any standard.”
Mathews currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the Kettering Foundation, a not-for-profit research foundation rooted in the American tradition of invention. Charles F. Kettering, best known for inventing the automobile self-starter, created the foundation in 1927. Gradually, the foundation expanded its focus to look beyond scientific solutions, recognizing that problems like world hunger are not technical problems, but rather political problems. In the 1970s, the foundation began to concentrate on democratic politics, particularly the role of citizens. Mathews was elected to the Kettering Foundation board of trustees in 1972, and in 1981, he became its president and CEO.
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