President's Blog: From the Heart

The Dayton region, our University, and the Mathile extended family suffered a major loss two weeks ago when former trustee and recent honorary degree recipient Clay Mathile H’23 passed away. As I visited with his family and close friends last week at his services, I was moved to write some reflections of this extremely successful, exceedingly humble, and deeply faith-filled man.

The title of Clay Mathile’s autobiography says so much about him: Dream No Little Dreams. Those words offer a lesson for all of us, and they’re at the heart of this extraordinary man’s legacy.

“Anyone who knew Clay knew him to be a man who made an impact: He intuitively saw the potential in others; he made people feel seen and appreciated; and he inspired individuals to strive toward their own version of greatness,” his family wrote in his obituary after he died surrounded by his loved ones at his bedside.

Many people knew Clay as a visionary business leader who bought Iams, a fledgling pet food company, in 1982, grew it into a billion-dollar company and sold it to P&G in 1999. He then founded Aileron, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing small business leaders, and started with his wife, MaryAnn, the multi-generational Mathile Family Foundation that has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into initiatives to improve lives, such as efforts to end childhood hunger and to increase access to education. He held a special place in his heart for Catholic education, serving UD so very well as a trustee and providing support to strengthen K-12 Catholic education through UD’s Center for Catholic Education. Clay and MaryAnn Mathile’s generosity reflects who they are, with their philanthropy largely done quietly behind the scenes. They have traditionally supported the marginalized, focusing on their humanity and dignity and providing the time and resources needed to develop their skills and create opportunity.

Clay’s accomplishments as an entrepreneur and philanthropist are indeed legendary, but as I got to know him, it became clear to me that his steadfast faith and his beautiful family gave his life the greatest meaning. His beloved bride and partner MaryAnn, five children, 15 grandchildren and their families, and one great grandchild brought him such joy and fulfillment.

I witnessed the warmth, respect, and love his children and grandchildren hold for Clay and MaryAnn when we gathered in a UD Arena suite to watch the Dayton Flyers play early in the 2021-22 season. Earlier this year, when I visited the couple at their home to invite Clay to accept a UD honorary degree, he was clearly touched and honored. Soon, though, as in most conversations with Clay, the talk drifted to his pride in his family, whose ties to UD run deep. Three of his grandchildren currently are UD students, and two others recently graduated. His daughter-in-law, Michelle, serves on the board of trustees, and other members of the family also have meaningful touchpoints with the University.

Clay always put family first. As they face the void he leaves and they carry on his legacy of service, I offer the Mathile family my heartfelt prayers. Like everyone whose lives he touched, I found him to be a man of high integrity who treated others with dignity, respect, and love. His values mirror our University’s values, and that is another lesson for all of us.

“I had four dreams in my life,” he once said. “The first was to own my own business, the second was that the business would stand for something. The third was to use my time and money to help entrepreneurs and pay back my mentors, and the fourth was to use technology to feed people better than we feed pets.” He fulfilled all of these dreams. And so much more.

These are no little dreams from a man who always dreamed big — and still inspires us to do so, too. Godspeed, Clay Mathile.