In December of 1975, a special dinner meeting was held in Covington to honor the work of Julian "Abe" Mathies, a longtime member of the Louisiana National Guard unit. A number of area dignitaries turned out for the occasion, sharing stories of his work and accomplishments.
He worked for a local soft drink distributor for years and was also active in the city's little league program. In fact, he helped start the Covington Community Center's recreational program.
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Abe Mathies Is Honored At Dinner
Over 150 persons turned out last Thursday night to honor Julian "Abe" Mathies upon his retirement from service in the Louisiana National Guard. The get-together featured dinner at Covington Country Club and the retelling of several stories involving the Covington unit over the past 20 years.
Ernest Prieto served as master of ceremonies for the event, with Hank Ferrer assisting. Special guests for the affair included Mayor and Mrs. Ernest Cooper, Capt. and Mrs. John Creel, Captain and Mrs. Hunter Brannon, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gardner, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Wagner, Coach and Mrs. Jack Salter.
Posters proclaiming that "Abe" is No. 1 decorated the room, and the event joined in the celebration of the Covington high school Lions football team's ascending to the state finals. In fact Coach Salter arrived late and was given a standing ovation when he entered the room.
Hank Ferrer told of "Abe" Mathies' life, saying he was born in Covington in the early 1920's, graduated from St. Paul's School in 1941 and went into the Army in 1943 after working awhile with a soft drink distributor. He was trained in the Combat Engineer Battalion and was shipped to England.
He took part in the first wave of troops to hit the Normandy beach on the D-Day invasion, Ferrer said, and he was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge.
Mathies was discharged in 1945 and went back to work for the soft drink distributor. In December of 1948 the Covington unit of the Louisiana National Guard was formed, and Mathies was made permanent duty man.
Here is a photo of the men attending that first organizational meeting of the Louisiana National Guard. Click here for names of men shown.
After work Mathies would go over to St. Paul's and coach the football team. Among the players he coached there was Jack Salter.
During the 1950's, Mathies was one of the first coaches for little league baseball, and he helped form the Covington Community Center Inc.. and was
president of the organization later on. He was named "Outstanding Little League Coach of the Year" during the late 1950's.
Ferrer told how he had gotten the nickname "Abe", and how he had thrown a gift-wrapped television into the air when members of his unit told him it was a snake. He had been snake-bit as a youth and has disliked snakes ever since, it was said.
Ferrer described Mathies as a friend to all who had known him.
Mayor Cooper told about "Abe's" service to the community and how he had set before young people an ideal of good living and sportsmanship. Coach Salter spoke on "Abe's" contribution to youth and recreation, telling how he was the "most unselfish person God put on this Earth."
Captain Creel commented on his being Mr. Louisiana National Guard in Covington and Sgt. Fred Gardner commented on "Abe" as the enlisted man's friend. "He helps turn people around," Gardner said, "helping them set things straight in their life. Whenever you needed him. all you had to do is holler his name and he'd be there." Gardner also commended Mathies' wile, saying that behind every good man is a good woman.
Ernest Prieto then told several humorous incidents which occurred during the unit's stay at camp, including the nicknames given each individual.
Hank Ferrer introduced members of the Mathies family who attended the function, and he also aided in the presentation of a Spirit of '76 Award. Mathies was also given a large outdoor bar-be-que outfit for his retirement.
Mathies responded to the comments made about him by telling a few incidents of his own, including ones dealing with Louis Wagner, Dan Berlin, Jim Core, and Wallace Laird. He said that he had been fortunate, being associated with the Guard for so long.
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His obituary in October 1997
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