Skip to main content

Matheny, Ray T.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1925-

Biographical History

Ray T. Matheny (1925- ) is a WWII Army Air Force veteran and a retired professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University. Ray Thomas Matheny, Jr. was born February 15, 1925 to Edna Ryan Matheny and Ray Thomas Matheny in Los Angeles, California. Matheny enlisted to serve in WWII in 1942, and was assigned to be the mechanic on a B-17 flight crew. In January 1944, Matheny became a prisoner of war, eventually assigned to Stalag XVII-B. When the war ended, he worked as a mechanic for Western Air Lines before again joining the military to serve in the Korean War. He got a BA from Brigham Young University in 1960 and a PhD in anthropology from the University of Oregon in 1968. Matheny taught at BYU for many years, while participating in archaeological digs to Mayan cities and maintaining connections to the New World Archeological Foundation. Matheny was recognized by the government of Campeche for his contributions to Mayan Archeology in 2002. On May 1, 2009, Matheny published an account of his experience serving in WWII titled "Rite of Passage: A Teenager's Chronicle of Combat and Captivity in Nazi Germany". Matheny currently lives in Lindon, Utah with his wife.

Citation:
Anthropology BYU, via WWW, May 3, 2017 (Masters from Brigham Young University 1962)

Deseret News, April 18, 2017 (Veteran remembers the dear price paid for freedom; Enlisted in 1942; currently lives with wife in Lindon, Utah; published account of WWII experience 2009 titled Rite of Passage: A Teenager's Chronicle of Combat and Captivity in Nazi Germany)

FamilySearch, via WWW, April 18, 2017 (b. Feb. 15, 1925 in Los Angeles; POW January 1944 and later assigned to Stalag XVII-B)

UPB files, April 18, 2017 (mother is Edna Ryan Matheny; middle name Thomas; in WWII served as mechanic on B-17)

Wikipedia, via WWW, April 18, 2017 (After WWII, worked as mechanic for Western Air Lines, afterwards joining military to serve in Korean War; BA from Brigham Young University in 1960, PhD in anthropology from University of Oregon in 1960; taught at BYU and participated in Mayan digs; recognized for contributions by Campeche government in 2002)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

George M. Ryan flight logs, 1929-1962

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8970 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Includes flight logs of George M. Ryan (Ray T. Matheny's maternal uncle) dated from January 1929 to July 1962 documenting his time as a commercial pilot working for Western Airlines and Pilot Meat Service, as well as his time serving in World War II as a pilot in the Western United States.

Dates: 1929-1962
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / MSS 8970, Ray T. Matheny family papers

Filtered By

  • Subject: Aircraft pilots X

Staff Interface | Send Feedback or Report a Problem

More information about Special Collections including Hours, Services, Events, and Exhibits can be found at lib.byu.edu/special-collections.

The BYU Library aims to create descriptions of collections that are inclusive and support an “environment of belonging.” If you encounter language in finding aids, catalog records, or collection descriptions that you find offensive or believe to be harmful, we invite your feedback at librarydescription@byu.edu.