Donald Mathews

Hastings resident, Donald B. Mathews, 84, of 1081 So. Hastings, died Sunday, November 28, 2004 at his home.

Memorial service will be Friday, December 3, 2004; 5:00 P.M. at Butler-Volland Chapel with Rev. Judith Allen officiating. Burial will be Saturday, December 4, 2004; 12:00 noon in Exeter Cemetery, Exeter, Nebraska.

Mr. Mathews was born June 28, 1920 in Exeter, Nebraska to Howard L. & Nancy (Brown) Mathews. He graduated from Hastings Senior High School and served in the United States Army, 17th Air Borne Division, during WWII from November 4, 1942 until December 11, 1945. He was a Master Sargent and was decorated with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and the Victory Medal. Following his service, he enrolled at Hastings College. His leadership roles and honors were extensive and in his senior year, was named the first of three Bronco Award winners, the highest honor Hastings College bestows upon its students. A 'three year man', he graduated cum laude with a major in English and minors in political science and journalism. Mr. Mathews began working for Hastings College immediately following his graduation in June of 1952 and for three years was the Director of Publicity and Executive Secretary of the Alumni Association. He resigned to take graduate work in public relations at the School of Journalism at State University of Iowa in Iowa City and did advanced work in writing at the Detroit Branch of the University of Michigan. In June of 1956, he began his employment with the United States government as a federal investigator, concerned primarily with the national security program of the Atomic Energy Commission and served in that capacity in Houston, Texas, St. Louis, Missouri, Detroit, Michigan, Chicago, Illinois and San Francisco, California. In 1960, he returned to Hastings College and was the Director of Alumni Affairs. In 1962, the position was expanded to include the Director of Public Relations. He helped in the founding of the Public Relations Council. His civic involvements have included the Hastings Sertoma Club, Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Hastings Community Theatre. As a volunteer for the theatre, he has been extremely active in all phases of the organization, including its president and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1999.

Mr. Mathews was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters, Velma Reichstein, Elda Brawner, Auline Garber, Marjorie Walburn and Wanda Munster.

Survivors include,
Many nieces and nephews

Memorial may be given to Hastings Community Theatre

VISITATION: Wed. 12-01-04; 5pm-9pm
Thur. 12-02-04; 9am-3pm