Robert A. Mattoon

Lakewood resident is favorite son
by Warren W. Gerber

Lakewood resident Robert A. Mattoon isn’t through yet, and his friends are happy.

Energized by leading his Sons of the American Revolution chapter to the highest national SAR honors, as recently announced at their San Antonio convention, Mattoon continues to advocate the principles and values of this nation’s first patriots.

Last week, he paraphrased SAR luncheon speaker Neal Malicky’s message that, while the Bill of Rights adopted by the country’s founders continues to be vital to citizens, now we really need a Bill of Responsibilities.

Mattoon’s Western Reserve Society SAR won the national SAR President General’s Activities Award for large chapters and the President General’s Cup as the top chapter in the country for the most complete programs of patriotic, educational and history-related activities covering spring 1995 through spring 1996.

Mattoon was president.

Western Reserve SAR has two dozen working committees. In 1995-96, in addition to traditional programs for youth, community and members, they developed a yearlong series of programs commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

They also established a Color Guard attired in colonial uniform --- coincidentally 13 guardsmen, each symbolically representing an original colony.

Mattoon was general chairman of the chapter’s Centennial Year programs in 1992 when even more patriotic events were sponsored.

Still earlier, as chairman of the Eighth Grade Good Citizenship Certificate program --- largest SAR citizenship program --- Mattoon’s plans drew new highs in student awards (more than 600) and northern Ohio school participation.

He is now a chapter trustee meeting monthly with two dozen officers, trustees and key chairmen to guide policy and committee workers for than 400 Western Reserve area members.

The chapter is the largest in the country, despite the lack of eastern seaboard Revolutionary War population centers and historic sites.

It is the second oldest, founded in 1892. Mattoon pointed out that any male, 18 or older, who can trace his ancestor lineage to a man or woman who provided some service to the cause of the American Revolution, either in the armed forces or as a civilian patriot and shares the SAR interest in passing on these principles and values of the original citizens, can obtain membership information by calling the Sons of American Revolution as listed in the (Cleveland) phone book.

Among Matton’s programs last year, he arranged for members and wives to hold ceremonies at Lakewood Park’s War Memorial when World War II deceased were honored. A picnic and program for SAR families and friends will be held at Lakewood Park again this summer.

Mattoon, himself, is a veteran of World War II. As an engineering officer, he served aboard the heavy cruiser, USS Pittsburgh which fought in Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns and in carrier raids on Japan. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and, as an electrical officer, served aboard the heavy cruiser, USS Macon and with the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean.

He was born in Cleveland and attended Cleveland Public Schools. He received a bachelor of science degree in metallurgical engineering in 1943 and a master’s in engineering administration from Case Western Reserve University in 1957.

After graduation from Case in 1943, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy before active duty in World War II. Between that war and Korean War duty, he worked for Alcoa as an engineer in the Permanent Mold Division for four years.

In 1953, he joined Lincoln Electric Co. as a sales engineer and became manager of marketing communications in 1971. His marketing duties included managing trade expositions in the U.K., the Soviet Union, Japan, China, Korea and Germany. He retired in 1993 but still serves as a consultant to the company.

For more than 40 years, Mattoon has been a member, now a life member, of the American Welding Society and held several technical and administrative offices.

Mattoon and his wife Dorothy, now treasurer of the local SAR chapter’s Ladies Auxiliary, are parents of Madalyn, Andrea and Eric (deceased). They also are now grandparents.

He said last week that he is intrigued by the nearby Hudson battle over the new, revised American history text for high school students.

When the first major revision was published a few years ago, Mattoon was among SAR members and many citizens who objected strenuously to the virtual elimination of references to the roles of colonial fathers and mothers in guiding America to a nation of laws rather than individual leader’s policies and whims.

Mattoon communicated with authorities expressing his objections. Although he hasn’t seen the latest revision, he says he understands references to Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, et al, are minimal which, he said, is cheating students in understanding why the republic has been blessed with such great success as compared to many countries.

Mattoon has seen many lands up close and personal as a traveling businessman, Navy serviceman and as a vacationing tourist. He commented that democracy works best here and the founding fathers got it about right.

Vigilance is a SAR creed that Mattoon supports.

The new patriotic essay contest launched locally during Mattoon’s presidency, the long-running patriotic oration competition, Boy Scout scholarship awards and a dozen other annual programs allow Mattoon and his SAR "compatriots" to work in support of traditional, proven citizenship performance with great personal satisfaction in the effort and results, he said.

This article appeared in the West Side Sun July 11, 1996 and the Lakewood Sun Post July 18, 1996. Reprinted with permission of the Sun Newspapers.

Robert A Mattoon, was profiled in The Plain Dealer August 6, 1992, Section B, page 2.