Richard P. Matty
{{Short description|20th century American politician}}
{{infobox officeholder
|name = Richard P. Matty
|office = Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
|constituency = 88th Assembly district
| term_start = January 7, 1985
| term_end = August 4, 1987
| predecessor = Esther Doughty Luckhardt
| successor = John Gard
|constituency1 = 52nd Assembly district
| term_start1 = January 3, 1983
| term_end1 = January 7, 1985
| predecessor1 = Earl F. McEssy
| successor1 = Earl F. McEssy
|constituency2 = 88th Assembly district
| term_start2 = January 1, 1973
| term_end2 = January 3, 1983
| predecessor2 = District established
| successor2 = Esther Doughty Luckhardt
|office3 = Coroner of Marinette County, Wisconsin
| term_start3 = June 15, 1966
| term_end3 = January 1, 1971
| appointer3 = Warren P. Knowles
| predecessor3 = C. L. Blahnik
| successor3 = Roger Schmitt
|party = Republican
|birth_name = Richard Matykowski
|birth_date = {{birth date|1932|9|16}}
|birth_place = Menominee, Michigan, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2019|4|21|1932|9|16}}
|death_place = Rennes West Nursing Home, Peshtigo, Wisconsin, U.S.
|restingplace = Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery, {{nowrap|Crivitz, Wisconsin}}
|spouse = {{marriage|Sandra Borman|1953|2019}}
|children = 8
|occupation = Restaurant owner
|allegiance = United States
|branch = {{unbulleted list
}}
|serviceyears = 1950–1954 (USAF)
|rank =
|battles = Korean War
}}
Richard P. Matty (born Richard Matykowski; September 16, 1932{{spnd}}April 21, 2019) was an American restaurateur and Republican politician from Marinette County, Wisconsin. He served 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 88th Assembly district from 1973 to 1987 (except the 1983 term). He left the Assembly to become administrator of tourism in the Wisconsin Department of Development, but resigned due to scandal in 1990. He subsequently worked for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and as a spokesperson for the Lake of the Torches Casino. Earlier in his career, he served as coroner of Marinette County from 1966 through 1970.
Early life
Richard Matty was born Richard Matykowski on September 16, 1932, in Menominee, Michigan.{{Cite web|url= https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS10335 |title= Matty, Richard P. 1932 |website= Wisconsin Historical Society |date= 8 August 2017 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 }} As a child he moved with his family to Crivitz, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Crivitz High School in 1950.{{cite web|url= https://www.rhodescharapata.com/obituaries/Richard-P-Dick-Matty?obId=4331486 |title= Richard P. "Dick" Matty |website= Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Homes & Crematory |accessdate= May 3, 2024 }} After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Army, but shortly after transferred to the United States Air Force, where he served during the Korean War.
After leaving the Air Force, he returned to Crivitz and soon became the owner of a restaurant known as Matty's Steak House, which he operated for the next 25 years. Through business and veterans groups, he became active in the politics and was selected president of the Crivitz Recreation Association in the 1960s. In 1964, he launched a primary challenge against the incumbent Marinette County coroner, Dr. C. L. Blahnik, but lost the Republican primary.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-marinette-county/146566588/ |title= Witt, Mattison Win In Marinette Voting |newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette |date= September 9, 1964 |page= 14 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }} Blahnik, however, resigned before the end of his term. On June 15, 1966, Governor Warren P. Knowles appointed Matykowski to succeed Blahnik as coroner. By then, he had begun using the surname "Matty".{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/manitowoc-herald-times-matty-appointed/146566684/ |title= Named Coroner |newspaper= Manitowoc Herald-Times |date= June 16, 1966 |page= 4 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }}
Political career
Matty won election to a full two-year term as coroner in the fall of 1966 and was re-elected again in 1968.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-marinette-county/146567174/ |title= 5 File for Coroner in Marinette County |newspaper= Green Bay Press-Gazette |date= July 16, 1970 |page= 3 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }}
In 1970, Matty launched a primary challenge against incumbent Republican state representative William LaFave, in what was then the Florence–Marinette district. LaFave prevailed in the Republican primary; Matty received 43% of the vote.{{cite report|url= https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/4QZIH6JIJYFLR8R |title= The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1971 |year= 1971 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |page= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/A4QZIH6JIJYFLR8R/full/AOTS2J7LMN67BK9C 302] |accessdate= May 3, 2024 }} During the next term, however, the legislature passed a major redistricting act. Under the new map, the old Florence–Marinette district was divided with eastern Marinette County joining eastern Oconto County in the 88th Assembly district. LaFave announced he would not run for re-election in the new district; Matty announced his candidacy in June 1972.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/kenosha-news-matty-for-assembly/146567715/ |title= Marinette coroner seeks Assembly |newspaper= Kenosha News |date= June 13, 1972 |page= 5 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }} In the Republican primary, Matty faced James R. Hertwig, a businessman from Oconto. This time Matty prevailed with 70% of the primary vote and went on to win the general election with 59%, defeating Democrat Robert La Count.{{cite report|url= https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AZKQZSCWLXXUFN8R |title= The State of Wisconsin 1973 Blue Book |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |editor-last1= Theobald |editor-first1= H. Rupert |editor-last2= Robbins |editor-first2= Patricia V. |year= 1973 |chapter= Elections in Wisconsin |pages= [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AZKQZSCWLXXUFN8R/full/AFXI2DPI34XCAG84 810], [https://search.library.wisc.edu/digital/AZKQZSCWLXXUFN8R/full/AWXZ54YOQNA7QM8V 828] |access-date= May 3, 2024 }}
He won re-election seven times, serving until August 1987, when he resigned to accept an appointment to a role in the administration of new governor Tommy Thompson, a close personal friend of Matty.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-matty-tourism/146568592/ |title= Rep. Matty to get Thompson job nod |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= July 8, 1987 |page= 5 |first= Doug |last= Mell |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }} Matty was soon named administrator of the Division of Tourism Development in the Wisconsin Department of Development.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-matty-tourism/146568670/ |title= Matty sets tourism priorities |newspaper= Green Bay Press-Gazette |date= August 23, 1987 |first= James |last= Bartelt |page= 29 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }}
In 1990, Matty ran into a series of scandals in his role as head of tourism promotion. First, he was accused of sexual harassment by an employee, who also alleged that Matty had her run personal errands for him during work hours. Matty personally paid damages for the complaint and was ordered to take sensitivity training.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-matty-harassment/146569276/ |title= Harassment case took toll on her |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= October 14, 1990 |page= 11 |first= Richard |last= Eggleston |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }} Just a few months later, however, Matty was given a seven day suspension after accidentally placing a tourism ad in a pornographic Japanese magazine. At the time, Secretary of Development Robert Trunzo elaborated that the suspension was due to a "series of bad judgments". Trunzo also noted that the governor was "outraged".{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-matty-suspended/146569399/ |title= 'Bad judgments' cost Matty |newspaper= Green Bay Press-Gazette |date= October 23, 1990 |first= Scott |last= Hildebrand |page= 1 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }} Democratic leaders also used the scandal to attack Thompson for appointing unqualified friends to important state jobs.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-matty-suspended/146569570/ |title= Tourism chief suspended again |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= October 24, 1990 |first= Jennifer |last= Riddle |page= 1 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }} Matty resigned the next day.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-matty-resigned/146569687/ |title= Matty's departure welcomed |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= October 25, 1990 |first= Jennifer |last= Riddle |page= 1 |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }}
After the 1990 election, in which Thompson won a second term, Matty briefly returned to state government employment as a business liaison in the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, but was forced out again under pressure from the legislature.{{cite news|url= https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-matty-transporta/146569864/ |title= Outrage greets hiring |newspaper= Wisconsin State Journal |date= November 20, 1991 |page= 33 |first= Chris |last= Martell |accessdate= May 3, 2024 |via= Newspapers.com }}
Later years
After leaving government again, Matty went to work as a spokesperson for the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, during their effort to start a casino. They were ultimately successful, and Matty became public relations director for the Lake of the Torches Casino, where he retired in 2002.
Personal life and family
Matty was the youngest of ten children born to Paul and Veronica ({{nee}} Wirkus) Matykowski. The Matykowskis were Polish Americans; his mother was an immigrant and his father was a first generation American.
He married Sandra Borman in Marinette, Wisconsin, in 1953. They had eight children together, though one died in infancy.
Matty died on April 21, 2019, at 86 years old, at Rennes West Nursing Home in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. He was interred at Saint Marys Catholic Cemetery in Crivitz.
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-wi-hs}}
|-
{{s-non|reason = District established }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 88th district}} |years= January 1, 1973{{spnd}}January 3, 1983 }}
{{s-aft|after = Esther Doughty Luckhardt }}
|-
{{s-bef|before = Earl F. McEssy }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 52nd district}} |years= January 3, 1983{{spnd}}January 7, 1985 }}
{{s-aft|after = Earl F. McEssy }}
|-
{{s-bef|before = Esther Doughty Luckhardt }}
{{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 88th district}} |years= January 7, 1985{{spnd}}August 4, 1987 }}
{{s-aft|after = John Gard }}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matty, Richard}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin
Category:United States Air Force airmen
Category:United States Air Force personnel of the Korean War
Category:People from Menominee, Michigan
Category:People from Marinette County, Wisconsin
Category:American people of Polish descent