![]() 2 years and a priest for 54, Fr. Mathias was president of St. Bonaventure from 1975 to 1990, the third-longest presiden- tial tenure in university history. hand on the wheel kept the univer- sity moving forward while integrat- ing new demands and welcoming new generations," said Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., university president. "The fact that Matt was happy to live out his days at Siena says much about his commitment to higher ed- ucation. I was always grateful for his warm welcome and supportive words." appointed its first lay leaders. Mt. Irenaeus, the Franciscan mountain retreat in Allegany County, was established. Christ the King Seminary had just moved in 1974 from Francis Hall to East Aurora. Athletics moved to Division I in all 14 sports. observatory, and an addition to Plassmann Hall. ties of enrollment and finances kept Fr. Matt focused on keeping the university in good institutional health," Sr. Mar- garet said. Order of Friars Minor, Holy Name Province, on July 14, 1956. He was ordained to the priesthood in Washington on March 17, 1962. He received his master's degree from Catholic Uni- versity of America in Washington in 1965, and completed his Ph.D. in political science from Notre Dame University in 1968. 1968 to 1975. In 1975, Fr. Mathias was elected the 17th president of St. Bonaventure. The youngest friar ever se- lected for the position, his 15-year term in office is exceeded only by that of Fr. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M., who served 29 years, and Fr. Joseph Butler, O.F.M., who served 24 years. Doyle Hall on campus is named after him. opment (AID) in Washington, D.C. He was also special consultant to the office of Congressman Amory Houghton. he returned to St. Bonaventure as professor of political sci- ence and served in that capacity for the next seven years. Nov. 25, 2015. where, at one time, he was the youngest college president in the United States, and where he served for 16 years. The Maryland State Senate recognized his "exemplary leadership" during his tenure at the Mount. He also served as president of the Princeton Adult School and was an assistant professor at Prince- ton University in New Jersey, where he taught for seven years. in turning that around created both support for his leader- ship and criticism of his means of fulfilling that need," said University President Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F. fulness and to welcome new faculty in whom he saw a bright future. I hope that he has found the great peace that is the promise of God, whom he sought to serve through- out his life," she said. his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from St. Benedict's Col- lege and Abbey in Atchison, Kan., in 1965. poems of George Herbert. and devoted his life to preserving and enhancing the repu- tation of John Milton. olina. Its special focus on illustrated editions makes it per- haps the most comprehensive collection ever of Milton illustration, from the first illustrated edition of "Paradise Lost" (1688) through all the major illustrators that follow. Descriptive Account with Illustrations," was published in 2008. Catholic education and scholarship, which was in evidence as he sought to support regional Catholic high schools dur- ing his term as president. |