College chairman announces resignation

When it comes to higher education in Cass County, the name “Mathews” is as closely tied to the idea as the college he helped create.

On the heels of Southwestern Michigan College’s 50th anniversary, its founder and the head of the college’s board of trustees has decided to step down from the institution, after a half-century of service himself to the public.

Fred Mathews announced on Tuesday that he would step down from the board of trustees following the conclusion of its next meeting on Jan. 19. During that meeting, the board will select a new slate of officers, which, for the first time, will not include Mathews.

With the school just celebrating a historical milestone, the Dowagiac resident decided that, at 85, the time was right to stop down.

“It’s not good for elected or nonelected officials to stay on for too long,” Mathews said. “I feel like the school is in good shape. It’s a good time for me to step aside, to the let someone else carry the baton for a while.”

The retired optometrist was one of the six founding members of the college board at the time of the yet unnamed school back in 1964. Mathews’ leadership was instrumental in turning the idea of a Cass County community college from a dream into reality.

Over his five decades of service, the chair has served as not only a leader for SMC but as an advocate for community colleges across the nation, including spearheading changes to both state law and policies of regional accreditation agencies.

With enrollment, academic success and infrastructural growth all doing exceptionally well, Mathews said that he is leaving the school in terrific shape.

“We’ve got a great board, a great president and great administrative leadership,” he said. “I would not step down if I had any idea that the talent was not there to carry on.”

The chair released the following statement to the Dowagiac Daily News:

After 50 years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Michigan College as its Founding Chairman and its only Chairman, I have reluctantly decided that half a century is enough.

I have notified the other trustees of SMC that I will not again be a candidate for Chairman at the board’s biannual organizational meeting on Jan. 19, 2015.

I have also notified the board members that at the conclusion of that board meeting on Jan. 19 that my resignation from the board will also be effective.

As I reflect on these 50 years, I realize I had many choices in life as to how I would spend my time outside of my optometric practice and family. I can now say, without reservation, that I am completely comfortable with my choices.

I have devoted much of my adult life to community service, in and out of this community. The crown jewel of that service is Southwestern Michigan College. No other path in life could have given me more satisfaction or have made a greater positive impact on this community.

When I attend SMC graduations, nurses pinning ceremonies, music events, art exhibits, theatre productions and many other events, this all comes into focus.

I can only imagine the void in SMC students’ lives and in this community had it not been for the affordable tuition and superior instruction, cultural events and the many other programs and services available at Southwestern Michigan College these past 50 years. The educational, economic and social levels of all these components within the college district have been greatly enhanced.

I am also proud of all the fiscally responsible trustees I have led. For each and every one of those 50 years, the boards have, without exception, adopted balanced budgets and lived within those budgets. Few public boards can make that statement.

I am also proud of the SMC Presidents and their administrative teams, faculty and support staff, without whom the college could not have functioned. With rare exceptions, these have been people of integrity, dedication and strong work ethics. I will leave the Board of Trustees knowing that SMC has never been stronger fiscally, educationally, administratively and in governance as it is today.

I am exceptionally grateful for the support of my wife, Thelda, and our two sons, Scott and David. Without their understanding and support — especially during those challenging early years of the college — I could not have been as successful in the role I played.

The support of area news media in helping SMC get the message out to the greater public has been very valuable and appreciated.

I am also grateful to the thousands of patients who made up my eye doctor practice and who understood and supported me in spite of the many appointment changes and absences from the office necessitated by my community service responsibilities. It was these patients who made it financially possible for me to spend the time I did on helping create, build and develop Southwestern Michigan College into the premier college it is today.

I am especially thankful for the support of all the citizens of the college district who elected and re-elected me every six years and gave me the opportunity to serve on the SMC board for 50 years. Their confidence and trust in me will always be appreciated.

I am also grateful to the boards of trustees who elected me as their chairman every two years and gave me the support needed to lead them for these 50 years.

Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for the ‘divine guidance’, which gave me and the college support and direction during these past 50 years.

I will continue to help the college with the marketing and sales of my book, Triumph Over Adversity — The Amazing History of Southwestern Michigan College. Proceeds shall continue to go towards SMC student scholarships in perpetuity.

I shall continue to be dedicated and supportive of Southwestern Michigan College. Thank you all.