Matthew Jonathan Dick was born June 27, 1910, in Brunswick Georgia. His parents were Matthew Jarvis Dick and Catherine Moore Dick. Matthew was educated in the Savannah school system and received further education at Richard’s Business School College and LaSalle Extension Division. Matt came to Opp in 1927 when he was only 17 years old. Matt and Opp were an instant bond, and he went to work with The First National Bank of Opp. In 1936 Matthew married Jaunita Carson of Andalusia and to this couple were born two sons: Bill, a dentist in Duluth, Georgia, and Jonathan, a banker with Colonial Bank in Opp. There are now five grandchildren.
Dick’s first job was as secretary to the president of First National, C. W. Mizell. In 1932 he transferred to the Opp Micolas Mills where he began a 43-year association, eventually retiring as vice- president. After retiring from the Mills, he served as a consultant with the First National and South Trust Bank for 15 years.
From the time Matt began working in Opp, he became interested in community service and always found ways to serve his community. One of Matt’s most notable achievements was the organization of a Little League Baseball program for Opp. Matt, along with other businessmen, developed Opp’s first Little League. He served as president for three years and then served as its director for three years. This is a program that has influenced the lives of many young boys, and the program will continue to do so if boys play baseball. The quality of Opp’s baseball program has brought a great deal of favorable attention to our community.
As president of the Opp Rotary Club, Matt re-activated the Boy Scouts committee, organized a troop which was sponsored by the Rotary Club, and served as a committee member for several years. Matt was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow; the highest honor Rotarians can bestow. Matt served on the Covington County Committee of the Alabama Society for Crippled Children and Adults, was a director of the Covington County Chapter of the American Red Cross and was instrumental in organizing the Covington County Guidance Center. Matt served as president of the Opp United Fund and continued to serve as treasurer for many years. He is a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and was director of The First National Bank of Opp and SouthTrust Bank for 20 years.
A n active member of the First Methodist Church since 1936, Matt has served in numerous capacities. He has served as church treasurer for eight years, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Administrative Board member for many years, chairman and member of Finance Committee, president of Men’s Club, delegate to Methodist Conference twice, president Men’s Bible Class, and served on many other committees. He continues to support his Church with faithful attendance and Christian service.
As one of the first whose interest was directed toward developing a medical facility, Matt worked with a group who knew it would be possible to build a hospital in Opp. His work at solicitations for financial help, his contacts with people, and the records he kept made it possible for Mizell Memorial to become a reality. He remained interested in the hospital and served as trustee and secretary-treasurer for many years, and as a member of the Board of Directors for 25 years.
Matt served as Director of the Alabama Electric Cooperative in Andalusia and was a trustee for 10 years. He was also a director of the Georgia-Alabama Textile Traffic Association of Atlanta, Georgia, and for two years was Chairman of the Traffic Committee of the Alabama Textile Manufacturer Association. Matt was a member of the Educational Foundation which each year provides many scholarships to children of employees and other students in the community to colleges and trade schools.
In his quiet, unselfish, and unassuming way, Matthew Dick has contributed in countless ways to the economic, educational, and spiritual betterment of his community. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.
