Businessman, former Tech grid star George W. Mathews dies at 88

George William Mathews, Jr., a successful Columbus businessman and former football star at Georgia Tech died Saturday in Atlanta at the age of 88.

Mathews was born in 1927 and attended Columbus public schools, graduating from Columbus High before moving on to Georgia Tech. At Tech, he played basketball and football, excelling at the latter as a running back and defensive back under legendary coaches William Alexander and Bobby Dodd.

Mathews played in two Orange Bowls and a College All-Star game. He is still remembered for returning a fumble recovery 96 yards for a touchdown against then-powerhouse Navy, giving Tech the victory. It remains Tech’s longest fumble recovery return for a touchdown.

Mathews would later be elected to the Georgia Tech and state of Georgia Athletic Halls of Fame.

After graduating from Tech, he turned down an offer to play professional football for the New York Giants, instead entering Harvard University’s MBA program.

After graduating from Harvard, Mathews worked at the Bluebird Body Company in Fort Valley, and then as executive vice president for the Columbus Iron Works division of the W.C. Bradley Company.

After a stint in Atlanta with Peachtree Door, Inc., he returned to Columbus and started Columbus Foundries, Inc. As Chairman and CEO, Mathews, with his associates and managers, transformed its single plant into Intermet Corporation, the world's largest independent manufacturer of ductile iron parts, with foundries in Europe and Asia as well as the United States, serving the automotive industry and other major users of ductile iron.

In 1992, Mathews received the Peter L. Simpson Gold Medal Award from the American Foundry Society "for a lifetime of dedication to the growth of the foundry industry through his leadership, management and motivation of people."

He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years, Jane, their children, Kathleen Mathews Hohlstein and George William Mathews, III , and five grandchildren.

A graveside service will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. at Parkhill Cemetery followed by a 2 p.m. reception at the Wynn House, 1240 Wynnton Road, Columbus.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Businessman, former Tech grid star George W. Mathews dies at 88."