Investing in the Community’s Natural Resources

Two brothers, Two Investments Children

It began in 1996 when Floyd Mattix gave over $500,000 to establish the Mattix Scholarship Fund. The rest of the story is told here. Longtime Plymouth resident Herman Mattix, Floyd’s brother, held to what some might term old-school thinking, like the importance of a solid work ethic, saving money and making a lasting difference in the community. But it was that old-school thinking that resulted in the $1 million Herman and Florence Mattix Scholarship Fund, which will benefit deserving Plymouth High School graduates for generations to come. Herm’s work ethic prompted him to go to work while a junior in high school as a stock boy at the Plymouth Montgomery Ward store. There he would meet his future wife, Florence, who worked in the credit department. Rising through the ranks, Mattix spent a total of 42 years with Montgomery Ward – at the Plymouth store until it closed and at the Scottsdale Mall store in South Bend where he managed the auto center until his retirement in 1982. By all counts, their marriage was a team effort. When he was in the U.S. Army, Herm sent money home to Florence who would deposit it in the bank. Herm bought properties, and Florence, who worked at Marshall County Bank (later 1st Source Bank), managed the money. Although the Mattixes never had children, they became a part of the family of their niece and were very active in the community.

Herm was known for his great sense of humor and it was obvious he loved life. He was very competitive, especially when it came to his brother. Herm told friends that when he passed on, he wanted to have done better than his brother! And he did when the Herman and Florence Mattix Scholarship Fund opened in 2005 with a $1 million gift. Herm believed that a community’s natural resource is its children, and he saw the scholarship fund as a means of keeping that natural resource in Marshall County. He had a heart for the nontraditional student and chose to support those who wanted to learn a vocation as well as those who wanted to further their education in a traditional two- or four-year college. 

By 2013, due to the generosity of both Mattix brothers, these two funds combined have provided more than $435,000 in scholarships.