AWI’s Inspector General driving force behind Steele-LeRoy Collins school

ANTONIO ROSADO
Contributing Writer

Sunday afternoon as the sun descended, James Mathews was laboring for a cause. Days earlier during a conversation with a close friend, Jerry Lewis, Mathews spilled the story of how he purchased two bicycles after his marriage and never rode them. Lewis, who is a distance runner, joked about the idea of bike riding with his friend.

“His wife was telling him a couple of years ago to get rid of those old bikes, but he said, ‘No,’ he is going to bring them out and use them again,” Lewis laughed. “I told him we were going to get out and ride down to St. Marks when he got them ready.” Staying true to his word, Mathews polished off the old dust, oiled the rusty chains and got the bikes fitted for new tires. And he started riding.

His ability to remain committed to a cause long after the praise and polish fades has allowed Mathews to enjoy the fruits of a rewarding career in public service. Mathews has served as the Inspector General for the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation 18 years. During his career, he has served in leadership roles for the Tallahassee Chapter of the Association of Inspectors General and was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to serve on the State Agency Inspectors General Counsel. He explained that his passion was always helping the community, which was the driving force behind his decision to dedicate his career to public service.

“I always had a desire to serve,” Mathews explained. His family is also very active in providing support for the Tallahassee community. His wife, Joyce Long-Mathews, and son, James H. Mathews III, have volunteered and in some cases, spearheaded their own programs. He expressed his pride in their public work; however, he is active in the community, too.

Aside from his career achievements, he has played an instrumental role in the development of numerous organizations. For more than 30 years, he has attended Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. He has assisted the church’s finance committee for a great portion of that time, according to his pastor.

“I’ve been there for 24 years, and when I came there, he was chairman of the budget committee,” the Rev. R.B. Holmes explained. “So that means the older deacons and trustees trusted his leadership and guidance and made him chairman of the budget and finance committee as a young man.” Over time, the relationship between the two men has led to the establishment of several community outreach efforts and the successful installment of one of the first charter schools in Florida, the C.K. Steele- LeRoy Collins Charter Middle School. Holmes credited Mathews’ professionalism and passion as being instrumental in the founding and functionality of the school.

“I think that if you take James Mathews out of the equation, Steele-Collins would’ve been dead a long time ago,” Holmes proclaimed. “His persistence, positive attitude and professionalism kept everybody together, and when it got real difficult, James Mathews was the one saying we can do this; we can overcome it.” While Mathews says he gets personal satisfaction from helping others, he has been decorated many times for his many charitable successes.

Among the many awards he has won for his selfless giving are the Herbert C. Alexander Distinguished Service Award, presented to him by Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, and the Tallahassee Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., “2004 Man of the Year Award,” which is the chapter’s highest honor.

When he is not serving the community or fulfilling his duties for the state of Florida, Mathews can be found on a golf course. He is an avid golfer; a relationship that started many years ago in his native Jacksonville Beach, Fla.

“My father used to work at the Ponte Vedra Golf Course and I would sometimes go out to the course,” Mathews said. He claims to have gotten much better on the green since those days, and he also likes to enjoy a game of pick-up basketball with his son from time to time.

“He can hit some three’s from way back, so he just shoots and beats me,” Mathews jokes. “He won’t drive in to score, so he likes to get me out there and get me winded.” However with a born again bicycle and an anxious riding partner, his “wind” may be getting a substantial boost in the near future.