[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 65 (Thursday, May 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E881]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  TRIBUTE TO REVEREND JOSEPH D. MATHIS

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                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 12, 2011

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a South 
Carolinian who distinguished himself on the athletic field and as an 
educator, coach, minister and community activist. The late Reverend 
Joseph D. Mathis is being inducted into the South Carolina Athletic 
Hall of Fame on May 23, 2011, and will be honored for his lifetime of 
accomplishments by the Rainbow Push Coalition on May 14th. I add my 
voice to those honoring Reverend Mathis, who made tremendous 
contributions to the State of South Carolina.
  Joseph Mathis was born August 28, 1922, in Cordele, Georgia, to 
Elnora Huggins and A.C. Mathis. He was reared in the home of his 
maternal grandparents, Lula Taylor Huggins and the Reverend Harrison 
Huggins, Sr. During the Great Depression, Reverend Mathis moved to 
Greenville, South Carolina with his family, where he graduated from 
Sterling High School. Despite the financial obstacles, help from others 
enabled Reverend Mathis to attend Benedict College and Allen 
University, where he earned a degree in History. He was a standout 
player and captain of the football team at Allen University, which went 
undefeated during the regular season of his final year.
  Mathis returned to Greenville following his graduation, and took a 
job at his alma mater. From 1946 to 1970, Reverend Mathis taught 
health, physical education and social studies at Sterling High. As 
their coach he led the Sterling Tigers football team to regional fame 
and three state championships between 1946 and 1961. Reverend Mathis 
also served as athletic director and coached baseball, girls and boys 
track and basketball at Sterling High. Coach Mathis always emphasized 
athletic fundamentals, conditioning, and academic excellence. In 1992, 
he was inducted into the Piedmont Athletic Hall of Fame and was first 
nominated to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
  During the tumultuous years of desegregation, Reverend Mathis took on 
the responsibility of serving as the Assistant Principal of Greenville 
High School in 1970. He held that position until 1974. He later taught 
Social Studies at League Middle School and worked as a placement 
coordinator at Donaldson and Enoree Vocational Schools before retiring 
in 1977.
  In addition to his commitment to education, Reverend Mathis was 
equally committed to his faith. He served as a Trustee and Sunday 
School Superintendent for many years at Israel CME Church in 
Greenville, and in 1961, he gave up full-time coaching in order to 
accept the call into the ministry. Reverend Mathis was ordained a 
Christian Methodist Episcopal minister under the pastorate of Reverend 
R.O. Langford at his home church. He pastored Young Laymen in the 
Nicholtown community for 31 years, and Mount Olive CME Church for ten 
years. In 1993, Reverend Mathis retired from the ministry after thirty-
one years of service.
  Another of Reverend Mathis' passions was civic involvement. When he 
earned his master's degree from Atlanta University, his master's thesis 
was entitled ``Race Relations in Greenville, South Carolina, from 1865 
through 1900, as Seen in a Critical Analysis of Greenville City Council 
Proceedings.'' His studies compelled him to organize African American 
voters in Greenville in the 1960s and 70s. He also served with 
distinction on the Greenville City Council from 1979 to 1983, where he 
worked to improve public transportation, to include minority 
contractors in public work, to bring Municipal Stadium and the Braves 
to Greenville, to improve police pay and to annex Verdae Place to the 
City of Greenville.
  Reverend Mathis and Kittle Mae Avery were married in 1948, and they 
shared a strong union until her death in 1991. The couple had two 
daughters, Janice (Thaddeus) Allen and Davida (Harry) Johnson, and 
three grandchildren. Reverend Mathis passed away in 2002 at the age of 
80, but his legacy lives on through his family and in the countless 
people he touched through his service over his lifetime.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in recognizing 
the remarkable life of Reverend Joseph D. Mathis. He remains a 
tremendous example of an unsung hero. Reverend Mathis dedicated himself 
without reservation to his faith, his community and his profession. He 
excelled in all these arenas and is a remarkable role model for future 
generations to follow. It is my honor to provide this posthumous 
recognition of his many accomplishments.

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