Former Congressman Dawson Mathis dies

NASHVILLE — Former U.S. Rep. Dawson Mathis has died. He was 76.

Mathis, who died Monday, served as U.S. representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Georgia from 1971-81, succeeding U.S. Rep. Maston O’Neal Jr., D-Bainbridge, who decided not to run for re-election in 1970.

Mathis left that House seat to run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1980, and then attempted in 1982 to return to his House post by challenging his successor, U.S. Rep. Charles Hatcher, D-Newton.

That seat is now held by U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, who defeated Hatcher in 1992. On Tuesday, Bishop released a statement on Mathis’ death.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend longstanding, former Congressman Dawson Mathis,” Bishop said. “He was a great representative for Southwest Georgia and rural America and he served his community with distinction.

“Our nation has lost an exceptional public servant, and I have lost both a trusted friend and mentor. The people of the 2nd Congressional District are grateful for his service and extend their sincerest condolences to his family.”

Mathis left his 2nd District office in 1980 to challenge fellow Democrat U.S. Sen. Herman Talmadge, who had been censured by the Senate for financial misconduct. Talmadge, who had served in the Senate since 1957, survived the challenge from Mathis and a runoff election against future Georgia governor and U.S. senator Zell Miller, but was defeated by Republican Mack Mattingly that fall in the general election.

In April 1982, Mathis, who had served on House Agriculture Committee subcommittees that oversaw peanut and tobacco legislation, announced he would seek to regain his House seat. Pledging that, if successful, he would not abandon it again to run for higher office, he said that he wanted to remain politically active and described his idea of public service.

“I enjoy the self-satisfaction of being of assistance to people who need help,” he said, “of people who have come to me because they had exhausted their efforts and sorely needed assistance with some problem where I was able to help.”

After being defeated by Hatcher, who carried 52.1 percent of the vote, Mathis said he had no future political plans. He became a private advocate in the Washington area, lobbying for groups including Georgia peanut growers. He was residing in his Berrien County hometown with his wife, Cathy Jo Mathis, when he died in Tifton.

Mathis attended South Georgia College in Douglas before moving to Albany, where he worked as news director at WALB-TV from 1964-70, leaving the media job for his first congressional campaign.

Mathis is survived by three sons: Tony Mathis of Jacksonville, Fla.; Jason Mathis, of Albany, and Rusty Mathis, of Leesburg. He was preceded in death by son Craig Mathis, of Newton, who died April 7.