David Mathews

F. David Mathews (born December 6, 1935 in Grove Hill, Clarke County) was Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under President Gerald Ford, and served two terms as president of the University of Alabama, from 1969 to 1975 and from 1977 to 1980.

Mathews grew up in the small community of Grove Hill. He earned his bachelor's degree in history and classical Greek at the University of Alabama in 1958 and completed a PhD in history at Columbia University in 1965.

Mathews was named president and CEO of the Kettering Foundation in Dayton, Ohio in 1981. He retired from that position in 2021.

The David Mathews Center for Civic Life at American Village in Montevallo is named in his honor.

Preceded by: Frank Rose	President of the University of Alabama 1969–1975	Succeeded by: Richard Thigpen (acting)
Preceded by: Casper Weinberger	U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare 1975–1977	Succeeded by: Joseph Califano
Preceded by: Richard Thigpen (acting)	President of the University of Alabama 1977–1980	Succeeded by: Howard Gundy

References

• "F. David Mathews" (August 3, 2016) Wikipedia - accessed August 12, 2016
• Hammontree, John (August 11, 2016) "One of the most influential men in Alabama history isn't a household name." The Birmingham News
• Crain, Trisha Powell (August 18, 2021) "Alabama’s David Mathews to leave president, CEO role at Kettering Foundation." The Birmingham News