MATTERN D.H.

MATTERN D.H. 19.07. 1905 Johnstown PA/USA 17.12. 1989 Knoxville TN/USA Donald Heckman Mattern obtained the BS degree from Penn State University, University Park PA, in 1926, and the MS degree from Iowa State University, Iowa City IA, in 1928. He was until 1931 engineer at Jackson MI, until 1933 consulting engineer at Keyser WV, joining the Tennessee Valley Authority TVA, Knoxville TN, as design engineer, first as a project planning organiser, and from 1954 to 1970 as chief of the project planning branch, from when he was a water resources consultant. Mattern was elected in 1968 Honorary Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE and was recipient of its Professional Recognition Award in 1962. He was cited ‘For his unselfish devotion to services in the interest of the engineering profession and active participation in all levels of Society affairs’. He served in 1949 as president of the Knoxville Branch, and in 1952 the Tennessee Valley Section. He further helped establish the District Council and served as managing editor of the Tennessee Valley Engineer. From 1954 to 1956 he chaired the 1956 National Convention Committee, and was member of the Committee on the Design of Hydraulic Structures, of ASCE’s Hydraulics Division. Mattern had spent the major part of his career with TVA. One of his first assignments was to investigate alternate sites for the Pickwick Landing Project. He moved through the ranks, gaining expertise, working on the design and construction of virtually all TVA’s multiple-purpose hydro projects and steam generating plants. When he retired in 1970, he was head of TVA’s project planning branch. His connection with ASCE activities began at Penn State and continued throughout his career. During his time on the Board of Direction, Mattern chaired national committees dealing with membership, employment conditions, and professional conduct. Anonymous (1963). Donald H. Mattern. Civil Engineering 33(10): 72. P Anonymous (1981). Mattern, Donald H. Who’s who in America 41: 2180. Marquis: Chicago. Anonymous (1990). D.H. Mattern, TVA engineer, dies. Civil Engineering 60(3): 89-90. P Anonymous (1990). Donald H. Mattern. Trans. ASCE 155: 529. Mattern, D.H. (1933). Discussion of Application of duration curves to hydro-electric studies. Trans. ASCE 98: 1291-1292. Mattern, D.H. (1941). Discussion of Hydraulic turbine practice. Trans. ASCE 106: 369-371. Mattern, D.H., Elliot, R.A. (1953). Record-size pump-turbine to be installed at TVA’s Hiwassee project. Civil Engineering 23(3): 172-175.