Raymond Douglas “Doug” MATHIS

1952 - 2018  (65 years)

• Name	Raymond Douglas “Doug” MATHIS  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]
  Birth	18 Mar 1952  [4, 8]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina 2010 School Board Candidates: Doug Mathis Print Posted: Friday, October 15, 2010 6:00 am | Updated: 11:14 pm, Thu Oct 14, 2010. RAYMOND "DOUG" MATHIS, 58, is running for Area 6 on the Sumter School District 17 Board of Trustees, the seat he currently holds. He graduated high school and holds two associate degrees. Mathis is currently employed as assistant chief of the City of Sumter Fire Department. He is also on the Sumter Consolidation Transition Committee. Mathis is married to Debbie, and the couple have one son, Stephen. His platform is "To ensure a positive, smooth transition for the consolidation school board." Mathis is unopposed. WHAT ARE SOME IMPROVEMENTs OR REFORMS YOU THINK NEED TO BE MADE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION? (EXAMPLES, LONGER SCHOOL YEAR, MORE INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS, MORE CURRICULUM OFFERINGS, ETC.) Leadership and evaluation, standards and indicators for school improvement, adequacy and equity in school funding (and) implement programs that work. HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO FUND THESE REFORMS IN LIGHT OF CURRENT BUDGET CONCERNS? Education funding is typically neither adequate nor equitable, and increased spending comes at a cost, in particular, a cost in the form of taxes. Based on political reality, sale taxes would be the most likely source for new revenues. WHERE DO YOU STAND ON ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF EDUCATION? (EXAMPLES, MAGNET SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, CHARTER SCHOOLS, DISTANCE LEARNING, DUAL ENROLLMENT, VIRTUAL SCHOOLS, ETC.) I feel that every child should have the same choice in education. I think all of the choices have good merit and have seen all of the alternative forms work. Quality education is a must for our children. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK PARENT INVOLVEMENT IS AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE IMPROVING PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHOOLS? Parent involvement is a must. (District) 17 has a great base of parent teacher programs that are working well. SHOULD YOU WIN, WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THE SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME YOU ARE ON THE BOARD? To ensure the new school district gets off to a good start. Working with the new board members will be a process for (District) 17 and (Sumter School District) 2 to come together. Both districts have done well working with the consolidation team. One item I would like to see addressed is the teachers and their pay. Recruitment and retention of good teachers will be a must for the new school (district). Posted in News, Local news on Friday, October 15, 2010 'After 42 years, it's time' Retiring assistant fire chief reflects on years of service Assistant Fire Chief Doug Mathis plans to retire at the end of June. Here, he looks back at his time with the Sumter Fire Department, from joining right after graduating high school to becoming fire chief shortly before his first retirement in 2001. BY TYLER SIMPSON tyler@theitem.com (803) 774-1295 Assistant Fire Chief Doug Mathis is planning on retiring from the Sumter Fire Department at the end of June ... for the second time. "After 42 years, it's time," Mathis said. "I don't think there's a better job in the world. ... It's been a privilege working with these brave men and women." After retiring once already from the fire department in 2001, he couldn't stay away, as the job had become as much a part of him as the blood in his veins. But having just turned 62, he said he really means it this time and finds it hard to believe that his time with what he considers to be "one of the best fire departments in the nation" is coming to an end. "If you don't feel that way about your department, then something is wrong," Mathis said. "You think that you can find a better department, but I promise you that you can always find a department worse." Mathis remembers the very day he was invited to join the Sumter Fire Department immediately after graduating high school; he was given the choice between the fire department or the Sumter Police Department. "You always think as a little kid that you want to be a fireman, and you still have little kids today who want to be firemen," Mathis said. "It really is a lifelong dream." As one of the oldest officers with the fire department, Mathis has seen plenty of change within the fire department for the better, such as the fabric of the uniforms changing from rubber to cotton and more fire stations constructed throughout the county. Mathis said he'll also always remember the emotional turmoil that comes with the job. He recalls plenty of instances recalls plenty of instances where calls would impact his fellow firefighters emotionally, witnessing many firemen hiding behind the trucks to cry after seeing victims that reminded them of their own loved ones. "You don't know which calls are going to affect you," Mathis said. "You usually don't think of emergency personnel crying, but law enforcement, EMS and the fire department all have a job to do. It's tough." But Mathis never worried about the firemen who would let out their frustrations and worries that come with the job. He always worried about the firemen who wouldn't. He remembers one incident in which three children were killed in a car wreck - he gave his firemen the opportunity to talk about it, but one refused. "If that didn't bother him, then something was definitely wrong with him," Mathis said. "But part of it is the image of firefighters, that they have to be the tough man. Nobody wants the public to see you cry." Personally, Mathis has had more than his own fair share of troubling moments while on the job, such as losing three firemen in Rembert in the line of duty and watching fellow firemen who served during 9/11. It was about this time that Mathis decided to retire from the fire department after 30 years of service, even though he was promoted to fire chief a year earlier. But when he was asked to return and serve as assistant fire chief, he just couldn't say no. "I thought that after I made it to the chief's position, I had done what I wanted to do," Mathis said. "But after several weeks, it just killed me. I believe in any profession you get into, if it gets in your blood and becomes something you like, it's hard not to do it." And after retiring in June, he will still be around if the fire department ever needs him again. "If I could do it all again, I would have started months earlier," Mathis said. Posted in Local news, News on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 Mathis was father, uncle to more than his own family Former Sumter fire chief remembered for passion, friendship Douglas Mathis’ casket is seen at Grace Baptist Church on Saturday during his funeral. Mathis died Jan. 10 at 65 and was remembered for his dedicated service to Sumter Fire Department and the Sumter community. He served as fire chief from 1999 to 2002 and retired a second time from the department in 2014 after decades of service. CHRIS MOORE / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM Posted Wednesday, January 17, 2018 6:00 am Chief Doug Mathis took his final ride through Headquarters Station on Saturday afternoon following his funeral at Grace Baptist Church. CHRIS MOORE / SPECIAL TO THE SUMTER ITEM A longtime supporter of Sumter Fire Department and the Sumter community, Douglas Mathis, former fire chief, is remembered as a mentor to the men and women of the fire service and anyone else who crossed his path. Mathis died on Jan. 10 at the age of 65 after battling with chronic illnesses. He joined the fire department in 1972 after earning an associate degree in fire science and criminal justice from Central Carolina Technical College. Throughout his career, Mathis worked his way up the ladder, serving the community on multiple levels before serving as fire chief from 1999 to 2002. He rejoined the department in 2002 before retiring a second time in 2014. For his contributions to the fire department and Sumter community, Mathis was a two-time recipient of the American Legion Certificate Accommodation Firefighter of the Year. According to Mathis' wife, Debbie, the former fire chief was a well-respected mentor to many people inside the department and out. People regularly referred to him using family titles such as Father and Uncle, she said. If you were lucky to get a hug from him, you know he loved you, she said. During the funeral service on Saturday, Debbie listened to numerous stories about how her husband helped others in the community. "I could have listened to all of those stories," she said. Doug's guiding nature was strong within the fire department as well as at home. "He supported me in everything I did," Debbie said. Mathis is survived by his wife; son, Stephen; and dog, Bogey. He cared about his firefighters and the fire department, Sumter Fire Chief Karl Ford said. Ford met Mathis in 1982, and both men had the opportunity to serve as fire chief while the other worked at the department. He loved to have a good time, Ford said. "We laughed hard, played hard and worked hard," he said. Mathis was very passionate about the fire service, he said. "He will be missed," he said. Battalion Chief Joey Duggan - who knew Mathis for nearly 30 years - said he met the former fire chief in 1990 when he interviewed for a job at the department. Mathis had a heart for service, he said. He took care of the firefighters like his family, he said. He also had a special place in his heart for volunteer firefighters, which make up about 80 percent of the country's fire departments, Duggan said. Mathis understood that the volunteers did not have to answer the call but served their community anyway, he said. He was a man of his word, Duggan said. Also known as a vehicle enthusiast, Mathis is said to have been a supporter of local car clubs and the initiatives they represented. Todd Touchberry, general manager of Cut Rate Drugs, said Mathis was a member of multiple car clubs and attended numerous car shows every year. He was always at the shows to buy a raffle ticket or help repair a vehicle, Touchberry said. Cut Rate will host a car show in honor of Mathis in March 2019, he said, to raise money for Sumter SPCA. - Adrienne Sarvis DOUG MATHIS Posted Fri. Jan 12, 2018 Raymond Douglas Mathis, 65, husband of Debbie Quinn Mathis, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, at Palmetto Health Tuomey. He was the son of the late Lester A. and Fannie Mae Weatherly Mathis. He is survived by his wife; his son, Stephen Douglas Mathis of Las Vegas, NV; a sister, Valerie Wilkes of Sumter; two nieces, Megan Wilkes of Las Vegas, NV, and McKenzie Quinn-Barnett of Charleston; a sister-in-law, Traci Quinn of Sumter; a brother-in-law, David Quinn (Kelly) of Pickens; and his cherished dog, Bogey. He was pre-deceased by a beloved brother-in-law, Grady Lee Quinn.   Doug was born on March 18, 1952. He attended Edmunds High School and graduated from Thomas Sumter Academy and received an Associate Degree in Fire Science and Criminal Justice from Central Carolina Technical College.   He became a firefighter in 1972 and worked his way through the ranks of Firefighter II, Lieutenant, and Captain.  He became the Assistant Fire Chief in 1991 and Fire Chief in 1999, the position he held until his retirement in January 2002.  He returned to the department as Assistant Fire Chief in March 2002 and again retired in 2014.   Doug was recognized for obtaining new fire engines, a rescue truck, rescue tools including the “Jaws of Life”, SCBAs for the county, individual masks for all volunteers, and AEDs for front running trucks.  He received the American Legion Certificate Accommodation for Firefighter of the Year award twice in his career.  He was also a member of the SC Firemen’s Association, the International Association of Arson Investigators, SC State Fire Chiefs, and the National Fire Protection Association.    Firefighting and rescue work were his life’s passion. He was very dedicated to the fire service and in protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Sumter County.  He also fought diligently for the welfare of the Volunteer firefighters.    He was known for his compassion, his mentorship, his dedication to all those called to serve, his desire to help others and his ability to make people feel valued and cared for. He was a friend to all, someone who knew that love is a verb, a man who gave generously of his time and was always willing to help those in need. He gave the best bear hugs, and everyone who got one knew he’d always protect them.    He was a member of the Sumter Cruisers car club of Sumter and of the South Carolina chapter of The Hooligans and was a staunch supporter of Easter Seals.   The family will receive friends from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Saturday at Grace Baptist Church.   Funeral services will be held at 1 P.M. Saturday at Grace Baptist Church with Dr. Steve Williams and Rev. Steve Shumake officiating.    The Firefighters Honors will be held following the funeral service on the front lawn of Grace Baptist Church.   Pallbearers will be representatives of local car clubs, Todd Touchberry, David Marcella, Billy West, Richard Harrington, Ken Burdick and Wade Hodge.   Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Sumter Fire Department.   Memorials may be made to Easter Seals of South Carolina, P. O. Box 5715, Columbia, SC 29250 or to the Jeff Chavis House in care of the Southeastern Firefighters Burn Foundation, 3614 J. Dewey Gray Circle, Building C, Augusta, GA 30909 (for families of burned victims).      On-line condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com   Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad Street, Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.     [1, 3, 4, 6, 7]
  Occupation	Sumter Fire Department, Sumter, South Carolina  [4]
  _UID	5AF0FDD9BE764D16B1ACCB0174B5BAF7BAAA
  Death	10 Jan 2018	Palmetto Health Tuomey Hospital, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina
  Burial	13 Jan 2018  [6, 7]
  	Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I66823	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	2 Mar 2018

  
  

  Father	Lester A. MATHIS   d. Bef 10 Jan 2018
  Mother	Fannie Mae WEATHERLY,   b. 24 Sep 1919, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina d. 31 Oct 2003, local nursing center, Sumter County, South Carolina (Age 84 years)
  _UID	A2C642D2ECF94C6DB230D9A2A2A16468864B
  _UID	A2C642D2ECF94C6DB230D9A2A2A16468864B
  Family ID	F36480	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Children	1. Stephen Douglas MATHIS
  Family ID	F51135	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S2736] Fannie Mae W. Mathis. [S3147] Women’s Honor Roll taps 3. [S15047] 2010 School Board Candidates - Raymond “Doug” Mathis. [S20769] ‘After 42 years, it’s time’. [S23872] Lee Quinn II. [S25752] Douglas Mathis * 1952-2018 - Mathis was father, uncle to more than is own family. [S25753] Doug Mathis. [S475] Davis Aiken Kirkpatrick, Jr., page 16.