Education
University of Michigan.
University of Michigan.
Prior to that, he had served in public relations and later became an advocate of organ transplant after his 1991 Institute of Food Technologists retirement. A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Mattson earned his Bachelor of Surgery in 1949 at the University of Michigan. After graduation, he worked as a chemist for Allied Chemical Company, then he shifted his focus to public relations.
Mattson first started his career in public relations as an assistant advertising manager for the Bristol Company, then went to work for Bell Telephone Laboratories as editor and technical information supervisor.
After his work at Bell, Mattson worked as an associate editor for International Science and Technology and then worked as director of corporate public relations for Monsanto Company in Saint Louis, Missouri. Mattson would remain with Monsanto until 1973 when he joined Institute of Food Technologists.
Hired by Executive Director Calvert L. Willey in 1973, Mattson would be named as Director of Public Information (called Vice President of Communications as of 2006).
Upon Willey"s retirement in 1987, Mattson would be promoted to Executive Director. He would hold that position until the 1991 Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas when he suffered a heart attack.
The attack would force Mattson to retire and undergo a heart transplant.
One of his fellow churchgoers at Pinecrest was Buffalo Bob Smith of Howdy Doody television fame in the 1950s. He also remained involved with Institute of Food Technologists by volunteering in an organ donor program and was seen at the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting from 1992 to 1997. Mattson died in Asheville, North Carolina on May 21, 1998 of a heart attack following battles with pneumonia and lung infections.
A memorial service was held in Flat Rock on June 6, 1998.
