Wayne Matter, who spent much of his adult life in the midst of Village of Bluffton activities, celebrates his 90th birthday on April 21.
An open house takes place from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, at The Centre at Bluffton, 601 N. Main St. The event is open to the public.
His political career includes:
• Bluffton council member, 1960-65
• Bluffton mayor, 1966-75
• Bluffton village treasurer, 1976-80
Other activities:
• Founding board member of Bluffton Housing Corp.
• Past member of Bluffton Hospital board
• 65-year member of Mt. Cory Lodge #418
As Bluffton grew during the 1960s to day, Matter’s footprint may be found on nearly every village project. When he stepped down as mayor he had served in that office longer than any previous mayor.
During his council and mayoral era Bluffton’s downtown experienced a rebirth as the first-ever streetscape program occurred. The village government expanded during this period with increases in the police department, fire, EMS and village services.
During his years on Bluffton Housing Corp. that non-profit organization created Riley View and Vance Street apartments. In 1974 Riley View was constructed for $700,000. In 1984 Vance Street was constructed at a cost of $849,750.
While treasurer of the Village of Bluffton, the village experienced its first-ever major annexation as it expanded in size by nearly 500 acres and became a village in two counties.
As a member of the hospital board, Matter participated in its first-ever expansion, which totaled $400,000.
As an Emmanuel United Church of Christ member, he served several terms as Deacon, Elder, or President of the Consistory, sang in the choir and served on many various committees. These included the rebuilding of Emmanuel after the Palm Sunday tornado in 1965.
Born in Bluffton on Riley Street in 1925, he is the oldest of four children of Richard and Josephine Diemer Matter. At only 6 months, his family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he graduated from North Side High School in 1943. He immediately left for the Marines where he was stationed in the South Pacific during World War II.
After being discharged, he returned home then moved back to Bluffton in 1946, living with his uncle and aunt, Leah and Earl Matter. He obtained a job with the Farm Bureau. He met Janet Young at a square dance and they were married on May 7, 1947.
They have seven children: Jane (Ron) Etter, Sara (Jack) Behnke, Mary (Dave) Fett, Susie (Jan) Gilliland, Ron (Laurie) Matter, Rick (Sherri) Matter, and Randy (Kim) Matter. They blessed them with 15 grandchildren and so far, 2 great- grandchildren.
Matter began work at Ex-Cell-O in July, 1955 and retired in 1984.
In addition to all of the above, Wayne is a member of the Bluffton Golf Course hole-in-one club, a distinction held by very few individuals.
