 Mike was born in Salem, Oregon, the second of five children. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1959, after graduation from High School. While serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles, Mike married his High School sweetheart, Carlene. They have been married for 50 years. Mike was discharged from the Navy in 1962 and hired by North American Aviation Autonetics Division as an Electronics Technician working on missile components.
Mike has been a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks for 35 years. In 1964, he was initiated in Long Beach Lodge #888 as part of their 60th anniversary class of 284 candidates. Mike reluctantly dropped out of the Elks in 1970, after he and several thousand others parted company with the Aerospace Industry. Dues at Long Beach were $100.00 and with a wife, young daughter and no job, money was tight.
In 1982, tragedy struck the Mathers family when daughter Michelle died in a car accident. Looking for something to fill the void Mike reinstated in the Elks at Fullerton and became active with the Greeters, Bowlers, and Campers. He soon was elected Trustee, a position he held for 9 ½ years, serving as Chairman of the Board 3 times. Mike became a chair officer in 1994 and Exalted Ruler in 1996.
He has been active in the District as Vice Chairman of Veterans Service, 3 years on the Ritual Contest Committee, and 2 years as Ritual Training Chairman. Mike was then appointed as CHEA Tri-District Ritual Training Chairman. In 2003, Mike started a 5 year term as a member of the CHEA Ritual panel, serving as Chairman of Ritual Training and Contest. Mike has been a Ritual judge since 1997 and has had the privilege to Judge State Contests in Nevada, Arizona, California and most recently, the 2009 Grand Lodge Ritual contest in Portland, Oregon. In 2008-2010, he was District Membership Chairman. In 2008, he was honored to be named the Esquire to District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Norm Jones.
Mike worked for Bank of America for 28 years supervising the installation and maintenance of alarms, branch computer systems, and A.T.M.s. He retired in 1999 and is now too busy to go back to a real job. He and Carlene enjoy travel, food and wine. Mike also enjoys catching and releasing fish during trips to their cabin in the mountains.
Carlene is very active with the Fullerton Lodge and a member of the Fullerton Emblem Club.
When she is not crocheting, cooking or buying cook books, has a full time job supporting Mike in all the many Elk activities through the years. |
