Matthews, Donald Ray, 1907-

Educator, state legislator, and U.S. Representative from Florida.

Born in Micanopy, Florida. Received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Florida. Taught in public schools in Leesburg, Orlando, and Newberry. Served in the Florida House of Representatives, 1935, and as an administrator at the University of Florida, 1936-1952. In 1952, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and served until 1967.

Donald Ray "Billy" Matthews served as the Representative from Florida's 8th Congressional District from 1953 to 1967. Matthews was born in Micanopy, Florida, on October 3, 1907. His family moved to Hawthorne in 1912 and he attended schools there before being admitted to the University of Florida. At UF, he was prominent in campus politics serving as Vice President and President of the Student Body, Chancellor of the Honor Court, and President of Florida Blue Key. He earned Bachelor's (1929) and Master's (1930) degrees in Education.

After graduation, Matthews taught in public schools in Leesburg, Orlando and Newberry and was active in Florida 4-H. Matthews served one term in the Florida House as the representative from Alachua County in 1935. In 1936, he returned to UF as Director of the Florida Union. In 1947, he was named Director of Alumni Affairs. During World War II, he served in the infantry and was discharged with the rank of Captain.

In 1952, Matthews was elected to Congress. During his time there, Matthews was a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, the House Committee on Agriculture and, in his final years, the House Committee on Appropriations as a member of the Subcommittee on Labor - Health, Education and Welfare. He was defeated in the 1966 Democratic Primary by Congressman Don Fuqua whose 9th district was combined with Matthews' 8th district to create a new 2nd district. Matthews returned to Gainesville in 1967 and briefly taught political science at Santa Fe Community College. He died on October 26, 1997.