Dick Matt, who was EAA’s first director and vice president of the marketing and communications departments, died Sunday at Winter Haven, Florida. He was 84.
Matt had been an EAA volunteer since 1963 and joined the staff in 1983 as the organization was moving its offices from the Milwaukee area to Oshkosh, according to EAA officials. He created EAA’s first video department in the 1980s, signing programming agreements with such outlets as ESPN, Discovery, and others.
He already had a notable film career prior to coming to EAA. He was a charter member of the Screen Directors Guild, and produced more than 50 short-subject films for Paramount Pictures. He also worked with such noted stars as John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Cliff Robertson, and Bob Newhart, and headed the production team that created the “Hamburger University” educational program for McDonald’s Corporation franchisees.
After his retirement in 1997, he moved to the Winter Haven area.
Matt is survived by his wife, Yvonne; his daughter, Kristin; and son-in-law, John Burton – who is president of the Sun ’n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Florida – and is also survived by three granddaughters.
