Deacon Doug Matthews

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Deacon Doug Matthews was born in Galveston on January 31, 1951. His father worked at a furniture store and his mother was a nurse at UTMB. Deacon Doug attended George W. Carver Elementary School and Goliad Junior High School. He then attended Central High School, an all black high school, for three years until it was closed in 1968. He began something new as part of the first graduating class from the newly integrated Ball High School in 1969. During this one year at Ball High School he made his mark by being recognized as Best Scholar/Football Player, Most Likely to Succeed, and Vice President of the Student Council. The Tors football team was 13-1 during his year with them and ranked second in the state.

Deacon Doug won a football scholarship to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, where he majored in government. He was a halfback on the football team for four years and set a new yards-rushing record. He graduated in 1974. It was at Lamar that Doug met his wife, Janis. Douglas and Janis Matthews were married in 1978. The are the parents of Ashley, Alexandra and Murry. Doug's father instilled in him the importance of education. It is no surprise then that two of their children are college graduates and the third is presently in college.

After graduating from Lamar, Deacon Doug went to work for the City of Galveston. He began as a grants coordinator from 1974-77. In 1978 he was promoted to Assistant City Manager, a position held until 1985. In 1985 he was promoted to City Manager, again beginning something new as he became the first black City Manager in the history of Texas. After ten years as City Manager, he was hired in 1996 by UTMB as Director of External Affairs. In 2008 he was promoted to Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs and handles UTMB's dealings with the federal government, requiring him to fly to Washington DC once a month. His primary task currently is working with FEMA to bring more than $700 million to UTMB because of Hurricane Ike damage.

Doug was a lector at Holy Rosary Parish when his pastor, Fr. Paul Banet, asked him to study to become a Deacon. He answered the call and, after four and one-half years of study, was ordained in January of 2003. Deacon Doug is a person who at times has had to overcome obstacles to become the first of his race to achieve various successes. He has accomplished much, and we are blessed as a parish to have him as one of our Deacons.