Leland B. “Bud” Mather Jr., 85, of Clearfield died Friday, Sept. 27, 2013 at the Mountain Laurel Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Mather was born May 1, 1928, a son of the late Leland B. Mather Sr. and Mary Frances (McDowell) Mather.
He’s survived by two daughters, Cynthia A. LaMantia and Wayne Kaufman of Lima, Ohio and Elizabeth A. Scott of Pittsburgh; four granddaughters, Emily M. LaMantia-Brand and her husband, Matt of Sherrills Ford, NC, Elizabeth A., and Erin A. LaMantia of Lima, Ohio and Katherine D. Scott of Pittsburgh; a great-grandson, Vincent W. Brand; and a number of cousins.
Mr. Mather was a 1946 graduate of the Clearfield Area High School. He attended numerous classes and seminars that were connected with the newspaper profession.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania Associated Press Managing Editors Association and served as president in 1974. He was also a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Newspaper Editors.
Mr. Mather started his career at The Progress in 1946. He worked first in the press room, where he dispatched papers from the press.
He began his sports writing career when approached by Edwin Flegal, a member of the Clearfield Area Junior High School faculty, who was assisting at The Progress in the 1940’s as World War II was winding down. He worked with Mr. Flegal, LeRoy M. Sunday, Preston Peightal and George A. Scott early in his career at The Progress.
He was proud to have voted in every election since 1946.
Mr. Mather had been a member of the Rotary Club of Clearfield for more than 60 years. He served as the club president from 1964 -1965. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1988.
He was a member of the West Side United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee for a number of years. He also chaired the administrative board for 25 years.
Mr. Mather was a charter member of the Clearfield County Region Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He served as a member of the Clearfield Borough Planning Commission for 24 years and was a member of the Route 219 Association for a number of years.
He also served with the Clearfield Hospital Authority; the Clearfield Community/Lock Haven University Advisory Committee; the Bucktail Boy Scouts of America Committee, which planned the 50th anniversary of the Order of the Arrow Chapter; the Clearfield Fire Department; the Clearfield Community Swimming Pool Association; the Clearfield B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 540; and the Clearfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors.
He was a member of the Clearfield American Legion John Lewis Shade Post No. 6, where he was past historian for many years. He served in the U.S. National Guard and U.S. Army, seeing active duty with Battery A, 200th Armored Field Artillery Battalion in Clearfield and Ft. Campbell, KY during the Korean War.
Mr. Mather returned from active duty in 1952 when he joined Editor Scott and others on the news team. He succeeded Richard B. Irwin as managing editor in 1955 and was named editor upon the retirement of Mr. Scott in 1977.
Friends will be received from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Bennett and Houser Funeral Home Inc., Clearfield, and from 10 a.m. until the hour of services Wednesday at the West Side United Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Dr. Joleen A. Willis officiating. Burial will be in Hillcrest Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the West Side United Methodist Church, 317 Nichols St., Clearfield, PA 16830 or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
To send an online tribute, please go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.