Thomas Matney. Personal creator's name if appropriate, surname first; or use famname element for family papers or corpname element for organizational records. The personal creator is the person or persons who created the collection. Add/verify info in SOURCE, RULES, and ENCODINGANALOG attributes

“Dr. Thomas S. Matney was a Houston philanthropist and emeritus professor of genetics and environmental science at The University of Texas Health Science Center and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Professor Matney made important contributions to scientific understanding of cancer-causing agents and the genetic mechanisms that underlie the development of cancer. His wide-ranging philanthropic and service activities enhanced the well-being of hundreds of Houston-area children and families.

Thomas Stull Matney was born on September 21, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri. His family moved to Texas when he was 10 years old. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in biology and chemistry from Trinity University in San Antonio, and the Ph.D. degree in bacteriology from the University of Texas at Austin.

In the 1950s, Matney served as Captain and later civilian Medical Bacteriologist in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps in Fort Detrick, Maryland where he developed protections for chemical and biological weaponry. Dr. Matney moved to Houston to join the Biology Department of the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in September of 1962. He became the first associate dean of the newly formed UT Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He was also a member of M. D. Anderson Steering Committee for Alumni and Faculty.

Dr. Matney was a generous supporter of the University and mentor to many graduate students. He personally financially supported students studying at the UT-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He established endowments of The Thomas Stull Matney Professorship in Cancer Genetics and The Thomas Stull Matney Professorship in Environmental and Genetic Sciences, both to support scientific excellence and service to graduate education.

He was married to Glenda Matney nee Oglesby until her death in 1990 and had three children with her. He remarried Nancy Lee Matney.

Dr. Matney's community service activities focused primarily on the well-being of at-risk children. He served as a consultant to the City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department about problems concerned with violence prevention in children. He was a Trustee and raised millions of dollars for Hospitality Apartments, which provides affordable housing for those undergoing long term medical treatment in Houston.

Dr. Matney was a past president of Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church, in Houston. He was also a Past President of the Houston Chapter of National Train Passenger Association as well as other national and local rail road organizations.

Dr. Matney died at the age of 82 on November 28, 2010 after an extended illness.” (1)

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1. “Thomas Matney Obituary,” Houston Chronicle (Houston, TX) December 5, 2010