Donald Ray Matthews
Encyclopedia
Donald Ray "Billy" Matthews (October 3, 1907 – October 26, 1997) was a U.S. Representative
from Florida
.
Born in Micanopy, Florida
, Matthews attended the public schools of Hawthorne, Florida
.
He graduated from the University of Florida
at Gainesville in 1929.
He taught school in Leesburg, Florida
, and in Orlando, Florida
from 1929 to 1935.
He served as a High school principal in Newberry, Florida
in 1935 and 1936.
He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1935.
He served as member of the administrative staff of the University of Florida
from 1936 to 1952.
He served in the United States Army
1942–1946 and was discharged as a captain of Infantry.
He served as assistant State 4-H agent in the summers of 1928–1938.
Matthews was elected as a Democrat
to the Eighty-third
and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1967).
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninetieth
Congress in 1966, defeated in the Democratic primary by Don Fuqua
. In his post-congressional years, Matthews worked as a consultant and administrator for the Rural Community Development Service of the United States Department of Agriculture
from 1967 to 1969; and was
an instructor of political science at Santa Fe Community College
(Gainesville, Florida) from 1969 to 1977.
He was a resident of Gainesville, Florida
until his death at the age of 90.
He was interred at Hawthorne Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Born in Micanopy, Florida
Micanopy, Florida
Micanopy is a town in Alachua County, Florida, United States. It is south of Gainesville. The population in the 2000 census was 653. As of 2004, the population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 652...
, Matthews attended the public schools of Hawthorne, Florida
Hawthorne, Florida
Hawthorne is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,417 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hawthorne is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of...
.
He graduated from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
at Gainesville in 1929.
He taught school in Leesburg, Florida
Leesburg, Florida
Leesburg is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,956 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,086.. Leesburg is located in central Florida, between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of the Oklawaha River system....
, and in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
from 1929 to 1935.
He served as a High school principal in Newberry, Florida
Newberry, Florida
Newberry is a city located on the west side of Alachua County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,316 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,630 . Much of the city borders the neighboring Gilchrist County to the west...
in 1935 and 1936.
He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1935.
He served as member of the administrative staff of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
from 1936 to 1952.
He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
1942–1946 and was discharged as a captain of Infantry.
He served as assistant State 4-H agent in the summers of 1928–1938.
Matthews was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Eighty-third
83rd United States Congress
The Eighty-third United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1953 to January 3, 1955, during the first two years...
and to the six succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1967).
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Ninetieth
90th United States Congress
The Ninetieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1967 to January 3, 1969, during the last two years of...
Congress in 1966, defeated in the Democratic primary by Don Fuqua
Don Fuqua
Don Fuqua is a U.S. Democratic politician.Fuqua graduated from the University of Florida in 1957. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from Florida and served from January 3, 1963 to January 3, 1987.During most of his congressional career, Fuqua maintained his...
. In his post-congressional years, Matthews worked as a consultant and administrator for the Rural Community Development Service of the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
from 1967 to 1969; and was
an instructor of political science at Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College
Santa Fe Community College ' is a public two-year Community college located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The college offers more than 72 degrees and certificate programs and caters to the academic, career and personal-enrichment needs of local residents, businesses, government and public service...
(Gainesville, Florida) from 1969 to 1977.
He was a resident of Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
until his death at the age of 90.
He was interred at Hawthorne Cemetery.