Harlan Mathews

Harlan Mathews (January 17, 1927 – May 9, 2014) was an American politician who was an appointed interim Democratic United States Senator from Tennessee from 1993 to 1994. He previously served in the executive and legislative branches of state government in Tennessee for more than 40 years beginning in 1950.<ref name="TN-Political History">Template:Cite book</ref>

Early life and education

Harlan Mathews was born on January 17, 1927, in Sumiton, Alabama, to John William Mathews and Lillian (Young) Mathews. After completing high school in 1944, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served until 1946.

Following his military service, Mathews returned to Alabama and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jacksonville State College (now Jacksonville State University) in 1949.<ref name="TN-Political History">Template:Cite bookTemplate:Rp</ref>

He subsequently earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Vanderbilt University in 1950.<ref name=bluebook>[https://books.google.com/books?id=KI0uAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA49

Harlan Mathews, State Treasurer], Tennessee Blue Book 1975–1978</ref>Template:Rp Mathews began his public service career on the planning staff of Governor Gordon Browning. In 1954, following the election of Governor Frank G. Clement, he joined the state’s budget staff.

In 1961, Mathews was appointed commissioner of finance and administration. While serving in that role, he completed a law degree in 1962 from the YMCA Night Law School, now known as the Nashville School of Law.<ref name="TNobit20140509">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="TN-Political History"/>Template:Rp

Early political career

Mathews joined the staff of the governor of Tennessee in 1950, serving governors Gordon Browning, Frank G. Clement and Buford Ellington.<ref name=bluebook/> 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.<ref name=bluebook/> In 1973, he became the legislative assistant to longtime Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Bill Snodgrass. In 1974, Mathews was elected state treasurer by the Tennessee General Assembly after his predecessor, Tom Wiseman, resigned to run for governor. The Tennessee General Assembly elected Mathews to his first full two-year term as treasurer in 1975,<ref name=bluebook/> where he served until January 1987, when he became deputy to Governor Ned R. McWherter.

U.S. Senate

In 1993, Tennessee 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In mid-1993, Mathews expressed a desire to run in November 1994 for election to the remainder of Gore's senate term. "Hardly a day goes by that I don't get encouraged to get in there and offer myself" for next year's election, he said in July 1993.<ref>The Wall Street Journal, July 9, 1993, p. A12, "While Many Outsiders Call Washington a Swamp, Appointed Sen. Mathews Sees Comforts of Home," by John Harwood</ref> Mathews ultimately decided not to run in the special election and in December 1994, after Fred Thompson was elected to the seat, Mathews left office and resumed a law practice in Nashville, Tennessee.

Death

Mathews died of brain cancer on May 9, 2014, at a hospice in Nashville.<ref name="nashvillescene2014-0509">Template:Cite web</ref> He was survived by his wife, Pat, and two sons. A third son, Richard Mathews, preceded him in death.<ref name="TNobit20140509"/>

References

• Tennessee Blue Book, 2001-02 Edition

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.
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