Former U.S. Senator Mathias Passes Away

George Wenschhof

For some time, City of Frederick native, Charles McC. Mathias Jr. had been suffering from Parkinson's disease. Yet, it did not seem to keep him from visiting home as he was often asked to attend local events of note.

Much will be written locally, about the man who let his heart lead him as he served in office. The Baltimore Sun has a good read here.

I grew up with him first being elected as my Representative in Congress from the sixth district when I was seven in 1960, the same year John F. Kennedy was elected President. After serving four terms in the House, Mathias was elected to the Senate in 1969, where he would go on to serve three terms before retiring in 1987. He became a household name to many of us who grew up here.

While in office, he exhibited the traits we long for today in our elected officials. He would look at the issues as right or wrong and not what political party supported the issue. His actions in support of Civil Rights and opposition to the Viet Nam war came early in both of those issues.

While, as a lifelong Republican, Mathias sometimes bucked his own political party, his votes and action came about after careful deliberation led him to do what was right.

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate could use more like Mac Mathias in office.

He was a true statesman with class.

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