Mayor Joe Matthews cuts birthday cake in April 2019 at the Armory to celebrate Marietta’s 231st birthday in the gymnasium of the historic building. (File photo)

Joe Matthews, Marietta’s longest-serving mayor, passed away over the weekend.

Matthews was elected in 1991 as the 54th mayor of Marietta and served two terms from 1992 to 2003 and later from 2012 to 2019.

He finished his final term as mayor on Dec. 31, 2019, which concluded over 40 years of public service to the city.

Matthews’ most recent awards included the recognition of his service to the city with the William Booth Award by the Salvation Army. Current Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher declared May 30, 2025, as “Joe Matthews Day” for the city.

After graduating from Marietta High School, Matthews served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 to 1958. When he returned to Marietta after his time in service, he joined the Marietta Fire Department in 1966 and served as EMT and firefighter. He earned the title of Firefighter of the Year in 1989. He retired from firefighting the next year and concluded 24 years of firefighting service.

In January 2020, exiting Marietta Mayor Joe Matthews flips through his binder of names, where notes with dates, locations and names are kept of each contact Matthews has documented throughout his 20-year political career. (File photo)

Matthews left a lasting impact on Marietta and surrounding communities such as Belpre, Vienna, Williamstown and Parkersburg. Residents, city officials, and past political figures looked back on shared memories with Matthews over the years.

Current Marietta Mayor Josh Schlicher said Matthews had been mayor all throughout his childhood and he knew him from a very early age.

“He was always good to me and when I was on city council we always had a great relationship,” said Schlicher. “While most people eased into retirement, Joe ramped up his efforts and I really admired him for it.”

Michael Moon Mullen, widely known as Moon, served as mayor of Marietta from 2004-2012 which were the two terms in between when Matthews was in office. He said Matthews had asked him to be the city’s community development administrator from 1992-2000.

“Joe and I worked on many projects together,” he said. “His service to the community was monumental and we were always working towards the goal of a better Marietta.”

In August 2019, from left, Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp, Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce, Belpre Mayor Mike Lorentz and Marietta Mayor Joe Matthews kick off Belpre Homecoming by lighting the ceremonial torch together. (File photo)

He said he worked with Matthews for eight years in the position as community development administrator. Mullen reflected on decades spent working alongside Matthews as a friend and city official.

“I worked with Joe while I was a city councilman from 2000-2004 and during that period we worked on community-wide projects,” said Mullen. “Joe was mayor after me and we worked together more when I was on council again for four more years.”

Mullen described their time together, reflecting on their projects in office and their time as friends.

Mullen said Matthews was the “Mr. Marietta.”

“I remember him before I got involved in city government and he was a great ball player and was someone that always had a big bear handshake,” said Mullen. “Joe had a large presence and he was always ready with a warm handshake and a joke.”

Marietta Mayor Joe Matthews, right, talks with members of the Marine Corps League in November 2017. (File photo)

Mullen described Matthews as “happy-go-lucky” and someone who always had a big smile. He said he remembered Matthews asked him to do karaoke one time and even though their duet didn’t win any awards, they had a lot of fun together.

David Nohe served a total of 16 years, from 1997-2012, as the former mayor of Vienna. He also served two terms as West Virginia Senator from 2010-2015.

Nohe said he was sad to hear about the passing of Matthews and reflected on the years he worked alongside him.

“When I became mayor in ’97, Joe was one of the first mayors to reach out to me,” said Nohe. Nohe said the Williamstown Bridge wasn’t a barrier for Matthews as he participated heavily in all of the surrounding communities like Williamstown and Vienna.

“He made it one community and we never thought of doing anything without the other communities,” he said. “The cities were really close back then and it was just one big city.”

Nohe said Matthews was a really honest individual and he found it to be really refreshing.

“It’s certainly quite a loss in the community and Joe truly cared about the people more than he did himself,” said Nohe.

Marietta City Council woman Katie McGlynn said she began her political career with Matthews in the ’90s. McGlynn now serves as city council member of the 2nd Ward.

“It was fun because Joe was such a personality and he knew everybody,” said McGlynn. “It was always interesting and he was great to work with, he will certainly be missed.”

She recalled a few specific memories of Matthews waving his arm out the window of his car to smile and wave to say hi to her or anyone he knew. She said Matthews knew everybody and he made an effort to know everybody.

“He had so many ties to the community and he was friendly and never forgot a person,” she said.

Matthews also served on various nonprofit and local organizational positions. He was the treasurer for the board of directors of Buckeye Hills Regional Commission during his time in elected office, the Marietta Shrine Club as a freemason and the Marine Corps League Sgt. Bob O’Malley detachment.