Harlan Mathews
Harlan Mathews | |
---|---|
![]() | |
United States Senator from Tennessee | |
In office January 2, 1993 – December 1, 1994[1] | |
Appointed by | Ned McWherter |
Preceded by | Al Gore |
Succeeded by | Fred Thompson |
38th Tennessee State Treasurer | |
In office March 31, 1974 – January 17, 1987 | |
Governor | Winfield Dunn Ray Blanton Lamar Alexander |
Preceded by | Thomas A. Wiseman, Jr. |
Succeeded by | Steve Adams |
Personal details | |
Born | Sumiton, Alabama, U.S. | January 17, 1927
Died | May 9, 2014 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 87)
Resting place | Harpeth Hills Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Pat Jones |
Children | Stanley Mathews Lester Mathews Richard Mathews |
Alma mater | Jacksonville State University Vanderbilt University |
Profession | Lawyer |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1944–1946 |
[2][3][4] |
Harlan Mathews (January 17, 1927 – May 9, 2014) was a Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee from 1993 to 1994. He had previously served in the executive and legislative branches of state government in Tennessee for more than 40 years beginning in 1950.[3]
Early life and education[]
Harlan Mathews was a native of Walker County, Alabama. He was born January 17, 1927 in Sumiton, Alabama, the son of John William Mathews and Lillian (Young) Mathews. In 1944, after high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 1946. Returning to Alabama, he graduated from Jacksonville State College (now Jacksonville State University) with a B.A. degree in 1949.[3]:404
After graduating, Mathews obtained a master's degree in public administration from Vanderbilt University in 1950.[5]:41 He began work on Governor Gordon Browning's planning staff. When Frank G. Clement was elected in 1954, Mathews moved to the state's budget staff. A year after beginning his service as commissioner of finance and administration in 1961, he completed his law degree in 1962 from the YMCA Night Law School, now Nashville School of Law.[2][3]:404
Early political career[]
Mathews joined the staff of the governor of Tennessee in 1950, serving governors Gordon Browning, Frank G. Clement, and Buford Ellington.[5] From 1961-1971 he served as commissioner of finance and administration.
In January 1971, Mathews left the cabinet and entered the private sector for two years, working for Amcon International in Memphis.[5] In 1973, he became the legislative assistant to longtime Bill Snodgrass. In 1974, Mathews was elected state treasurer by the Tennessee General Assembly when his predecessor, Tom Wiseman, resigned to run for governor. The Tennessee General Assembly elected him to his first full two-year term as in 1975,[5] where he served until January 1987, when he became deputy to Governor Ned R. McWherter.
U.S. Senate[]
In 1993, Governor Ned McWherter appointed Mathews to the U.S. Senate following the resignation of Al Gore, who resigned to serve as Vice President of the United States. Upon appointing Mathews to the senate, McWherter announced Mathews’ role would be one of caretaker, to allow those who wanted to run for the position to prepare their campaigns. Mathews had no ambition of running for election to the U.S. Senate.[6]
In December 1994, Mathews left office and practiced law in Nashville, Tennessee.
Death[]
Mathews died of brain cancer on May 9, 2014 at a hospice in Nashville.[7] He was survived by his wife, Pat, and two sons. A third son, Richard Mathews, preceded him in death.[2]
References[]
- United States Congress. "Harlan Mathews (id: M000236)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Tennessee Blue Book, 2001-02 Edition
- ^ "States in the Senate".
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Cass, Michael (May 9, 2014). "Former U.S. Sen. and Deputy Gov. Harlan Mathews dies". The Tennessean. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Langsdon, Phillip (2000). Tennessee: A Political History. Hillsboro Press. ISBN 978-1577361251.
- ^ Tennessee Blue Book 1987-1988. Nashville, Tennessee: Secretary of State. 1987. pp. v.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Harlan Mathews, State Treasurer, Tennessee Blue Book 1975-1978
- ^ "Gore's Senate replacement named". December 29, 1992.
- ^ CAVENDISH, Steve (May 9, 2014). "Former Senator Harlan Mathews Dies at 87". Retrieved May 11, 2014.
External links[]
- Senator Harlan Mathews Papers, 1993-1994, Tennessee State Library and Archives.
- Senator Harlan Mathews Papers Addition, 1992-1994, Tennessee State Library and Archives.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
show |
---|
- 1927 births
- 2014 deaths
- People from Walker County, Alabama
- Jacksonville State University alumni
- Nashville School of Law alumni
- Vanderbilt University alumni
- United States senators from Tennessee
- Tennessee lawyers
- State cabinet secretaries of Tennessee
- Democratic Party United States senators
- Tennessee Democrats
- State treasurers of Tennessee
- Deaths from brain tumor
- Deaths from cancer in Tennessee
- 20th-century American lawyers
- United States Navy personnel of World War II