# Ray Mattox
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{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Ray Mattox
|image = Ray Mattox.jpg
|caption = Mattox in 1974
|image_size = 200
|birth_name = Walter Raymond Mattox
|birth_date = {{birth date|1927|03|10}}
|birth_place = [Jesup, Georgia](/source/Jesup%2C_Georgia), U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2005|12|29|1927|03|10}}
|death_place = [Winter Haven, Florida](/source/Winter_Haven%2C_Florida), U.S.
|office1 = Member of the
[Florida House of Representatives](/source/Florida_House_of_Representatives)
from [Polk County](/source/Polk_County%2C_Florida)
|term_start1 = 1957
|term_end1 = 1967
|office2 = Member of the [Florida House of Representatives](/source/Florida_House_of_Representatives) from the 56th district
|term_start2 = 1967
|term_end2 = 1968
|preceded2 = ''District established''
|succeeded2 = [Bob Brannen](/source/Bob_Brannen)
|office3 = Member of the [Florida House of Representatives](/source/Florida_House_of_Representatives) from the 57th district
|term_start3 = 1970
|term_end3 = 1972
|preceded3 = [William H. Bevis](/source/William_H._Bevis)
|succeeded3 = [John J. Savage](/source/John_J._Savage)
|office4 = Member of the [Florida House of Representatives](/source/Florida_House_of_Representatives) from the 49th district
|term_start4 = 1972
|term_end4 = 1976
|preceded4 = [Jack Murphy](/source/Jack_Murphy_(Florida_politician))
|succeeded4 = [Bob Crawford](/source/Bob_Crawford_(Florida_politician))
|party = [Democratic](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States))
|children = 2[{{Cite web|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2006/01/01/mccheadray-mattoxmcchead/26625572007/|title=Ray Mattox|work=[The Ledger](/source/The_Ledger)|date=December 31, 2005|access-date=August 23, 2022}}]
|alma_mater = [Florida Southern College](/source/Florida_Southern_College)
[University of Florida](/source/University_of_Florida)
}}
'''Walter Raymond Mattox''' (March 10, 1927 – December 29, 2005) was an American politician.[{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/316373193/|title=State's Loyalty Oath May Be Revised|work=[Tampa Bay Times](/source/Tampa_Bay_Times)|location=[Tampa, Florida](/source/Tampa%2C_Florida)|date=September 26, 1964|access-date=August 23, 2022|page=14|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}} {{Closed access}}] A member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)), he served in the [Florida House of Representatives](/source/Florida_House_of_Representatives) from 1957 to 1968 and again from 1972 to 1976.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html|title=House of Representatives|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113095046/http://www.uflib.ufl.edu/fefdl/florida/House19672001.html|archive-date=January 13, 2018|url-status=live|via=[Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/HouseContent/Approved/Public%20Guide/Uploads/Documents/house_counties_final.pdf |title=Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County 1845-2012|first=Robert|last=Ward|date=August 3, 2011|work=[Florida House of Representatives](/source/Florida_House_of_Representatives)|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316034642/https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FileStores/Web/HouseContent/Approved/Public%20Guide/Uploads/Documents/house_counties_final.pdf|archive-date=March 16, 2022|url-status=live|via=[Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)}}]
== Life and career ==
Mattox was born in [Jesup, Georgia](/source/Jesup%2C_Georgia), the son of Grady Mattox and Audry James. He served in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) during [World War II](/source/World_War_II), which after his discharge, he attended [Florida Southern College](/source/Florida_Southern_College), earning his [BS degree](/source/Bachelor_of_Science) in [business economics](/source/business_economics) in 1951. He also attended the [University of Florida](/source/University_of_Florida), earning his [law degree](/source/law_degree) in 1954. He was a [second lieutenant](/source/second_lieutenant) in the [United States Army Reserve](/source/United_States_Army_Reserve) during the [Korean War](/source/Korean_War).[{{Citation|title=The Florida Handbook|page=418|date=1965|publisher=Peninsular Publishing Company}}][{{Citation|title=The Clerk's Manual for the Use of the Legislature of the State of Florida|page=134|date=1978|publisher=The State|location=[Florida](/source/Florida)}}]
[[File:Ray Mattox with unidentified man.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Mattox (right) with an unidentified man at the [Civitan International](/source/Civitan_International), 1969]]
Mattox served in the [Florida House of Representatives](/source/Florida_House_of_Representatives) from 1957 to 1968 and again from 1972 to 1976.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=750378|title=FL District 8 - D Primary - House of Representatives - Democratic Primary Election|work=Our Campaigns|access-date=July 4, 2025}}]
== Death ==
Mattox died on December 29, 2005, of a [heart attack](/source/heart_attack) in [Winter Haven, Florida](/source/Winter_Haven%2C_Florida), at the age of 78.