Thomas A. Mathis

{{short description|New Jersey State Senator and political boss}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Thomas A. Mathis

|image =

|caption =

|office1 = Member of the New Jersey Senate from Ocean County

|term_start1 = 1942

|term_end1 = 1946

|predecessor1 = W. Steelman Mathis

|successor1 = W. Steelman Mathis

|term_start2 = 1923

|term_end2 = 1931

|predecessor2 = Harry T. Hagaman

|successor2 = Wilfred H. Jayne Jr.

|term_start3 = 1914

|term_end3 = 1916

|predecessor3 = George C. Low

|successor3 = David G. Conrad

|term_start4 = 1910

|term_end4 = 1910

|predecessor4 = William J. Harrison

|successor4 = George C. Low

|office5 = 18th Secretary of State of New Jersey

|governor5 = A. Harry Moore
Harold G. Hoffman

|term_start5 = 1931

|term_end5 = 1941

|predecessor5 = Joseph F. S. Fitzpatrick

|successor5 = Joseph A. Brophy

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1869|6|7}}

|birth_place = New Gretna, New Jersey

|death_date = {{Death date and age|1958|5|18|1869|6|7}}

|death_place = Toms River, New Jersey

|party = Republican

}}

Thomas A. "Captain Tom" Mathis (June 7, 1869 – May 18, 1958) was an American politician and the Republican boss and racketeer of Ocean County, New Jersey during the early 20th century."This Ocean County political boss was not to be crossed" by Eril Larsen, Asbury Park Press He served in the New Jersey Senate and was the Secretary of State of New Jersey from 1931 to 1941. His son was state senator W. Steelman Mathis.{{cite web|url=http://observer.com/2009/08/some-ocean-county-gop-history/ |title=Some Ocean County GOP history |publisher=Observer |date=2009-08-13 |accessdate=2017-01-11}}

A very corrupt figure in New Jersey politics, Mathis reportedly received kickbacks on illegal gambling and prostitution operations. He committed suicide on May 18, 1958, at his home in Toms River, New Jersey at age 88.{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/221695074/ |title=The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey on May 20, 1958 · Page 2 |publisher=Newspapers.com |date=1958-05-20 |accessdate=2017-01-11}}