Howard W. Mattson
Encyclopedia
Howard W. Mattson was the third Executive Vice President of the Institute of Food Technologists
(IFT), serving in that capacity from 1987 until his 1991 retirement. Prior to that, he had served in public relations
and later became an advocate
of organ transplant
after his 1991 IFT retirement.
, Mattson earned his B.S. in 1949 at the University of Michigan
. After graduation, he worked as a chemist for Allied Chemical Company, then he shifted his focus to public relations.
manager for the Bristol Company, then went to work for Bell Telephone Laboratories as editor
and technical information supervisor. After his work at Bell, Mattson worked as an associate editor for International Science and Technology and then worked as director of corporate public relations for Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Missouri
. Mattson would remain with Monsanto until 1973 when he joined IFT.
in 1973, Mattson would be named as Director of Public Information (called Vice President of Communications as of 2006). Upon Willey's retirement in 1987, Mattson would be promoted to Executive Director. He would hold that position until the 1991 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas
when he suffered a heart attack
. The attack would force Mattson to retire and undergo a heart transplant.
(between Asheville, North Carolina
and Greenville, South Carolina
) where he joined Pinecrest Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP). During his time, Mattson became an accomplished photographer, even having a photo of his make the cover of the ARP Magazine in November 1996. One of his fellow churchgoers at Pinecrest was Buffalo Bob Smith
of Howdy Doody
television
fame in the 1950s. He also remained involved with IFT by volunteering in an organ donor program and was seen at the IFT Annual Meeting from 1992 to 1997.
on May 21, 1998 of a heart attack
following battles with pneumonia
and lung infections. A memorial service was held in Flat Rock on June 6, 1998.
Institute of Food Technologists
The Institute of Food Technologists or IFT is an international, non-profit professional organization for the advancement of food science and technology. It is the largest of food science organizations in the world, encompassing 22,000 members worldwide as of 2006. It is referred to as "THE Society...
(IFT), serving in that capacity from 1987 until his 1991 retirement. Prior to that, he had served in public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
and later became an advocate
Advocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
of organ transplant
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
after his 1991 IFT retirement.
Early life and career
A native of Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, Mattson earned his B.S. in 1949 at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. After graduation, he worked as a chemist for Allied Chemical Company, then he shifted his focus to public relations.
Public relations prior to IFT
Mattson first started his career in public relations as an assistant advertisingAdvertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
manager for the Bristol Company, then went to work for Bell Telephone Laboratories as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and technical information supervisor. After his work at Bell, Mattson worked as an associate editor for International Science and Technology and then worked as director of corporate public relations for Monsanto Company in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Mattson would remain with Monsanto until 1973 when he joined IFT.
IFT service
Hired by Executive Director Calvert L. WilleyCalvert L. Willey
Calvert L. Willey was the second Executive Vice President of the Institute of Food Technologists, serving in that manner from 1961 until his 1987 retirement.-Early career:...
in 1973, Mattson would be named as Director of Public Information (called Vice President of Communications as of 2006). Upon Willey's retirement in 1987, Mattson would be promoted to Executive Director. He would hold that position until the 1991 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
when he suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. The attack would force Mattson to retire and undergo a heart transplant.
Retirement and post-IFT service
Mattson would retire to Flat Rock, North CarolinaFlat Rock, Henderson County, North Carolina
Flat Rock is a village in Henderson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 2,565 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Flat Rock Historic District.- Culture :Flat Rock is...
(between Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
and Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
) where he joined Pinecrest Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP). During his time, Mattson became an accomplished photographer, even having a photo of his make the cover of the ARP Magazine in November 1996. One of his fellow churchgoers at Pinecrest was Buffalo Bob Smith
Buffalo Bob Smith
Buffalo Bob Smith was the host of the children's show Howdy Doody.-Biography:...
of Howdy Doody
Howdy Doody
Howdy Doody is an American children's television program that was created and produced by E. Roger Muir and telecast on NBC in the United States from 1947 until 1960. It was a pioneer in children's television programming and set the pattern for many similar shows...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
fame in the 1950s. He also remained involved with IFT by volunteering in an organ donor program and was seen at the IFT Annual Meeting from 1992 to 1997.
Death
Mattson died in Asheville, North CarolinaAsheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
on May 21, 1998 of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
following battles with pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
and lung infections. A memorial service was held in Flat Rock on June 6, 1998.