Marietta Mayor Joe Matthews talks about a painting of U.S. Marine Corps memorabilia and his dog tags in his office in 2018. (File photo)

As a young photojournalist in the 1980s, I would frequently see firefighter Joe Matthews at the different fires and accidents around town. Joe was always friendly and helpful; he understood that we had a job to do and understood when I might have gotten a little closer than I should have to a situation they were trying to deal with.

My wife Lori and I were sitting in the old Keg Room in the early 1990s enjoying pizza and a cold beer. Joe slid into the booth beside us and got right to the point. “Art, I’m going to run for mayor.” I might have chuckled a bit because the young version of me could not understand why after a lifetime of public service he would want to jump right back into it.

He obviously had made up his mind. Joe was running.

Of course he was elected. Not once, but five times. More than anyone else in the 238-year history of Marietta. He made a big mark on the city, but he also left a mark on the people who live and work here.

Joe knew everyone, and everyone knew Joe. Joe’s five terms were broken up into two sections.

It was during his gap years that I ran into him at Subway in the Frontier Shopping Center.

The line for subs was out the door.

Joe was a master of working a room and he was going to work this one. He went right down the line, shaking hands, telling stories, asking everyone how they were.

I have watched multiple presidents work a line, Clinton, Bush, even Ronald Reagan had nothing on Joe Matthews. Joe connected with everyone because he was one of them. He finally got back to me. Of course, he asked how I was doing. “I’m fine Joe, but if I didn’t know any better, I would think you were running for something,” I said. This time it was his turn to chuckle because he knew in his heart that was exactly what he was doing.

Joe never really quit being a firefighter. I was at a fire on Scammel Street once and Joe showed up to help. Wearing his custom firefighter hat, he took the controls of the ladder truck to reach the upper floors of a house. I’m sure there has been a lot of great mayors in Marietta, but would any of them be able to pull you out of a burning house?

At the holidays Joe would frequently assist Santa Claus during the annual Christmas parade. While riding as the jolly old elf in the bucket of the aerial truck down Front Street he yelled out to me by name, “Merry Christmas Art!” My two young children turned to me, “Do you know Santa?” they asked in amazement. “Oh, course I do,” I told them. The exact same conservation was likely taking place all along the parade route as he connected with parents and amazed their children.

Joe was a master of lifting people up.

Thank you for your service.

Joe Matthews will be buried Saturday in Mound Cemetery.

Art Smith is online manager of The Marietta Times and Parkersburg News and Sentinel. He can be reached at asmith@mariettatimes.com.