R.C. (Bob) Mathews, Jr. Chairman rchmathews@themathewscompany.com Bob Mathews is one of the giants of Nashville real estate. He joined his father's construction company in 1952 and became CEO a decade later. Under his direction, The Mathews Company developed the capability and experience to oversee every step of the development process, from selecting a site to leasing and managing a completed project.

Much of Nashville's silhouette is a result of Mr. Mathews' vision. In a 1989 interview, he said of The Mathews Company: "Our mainstay has really been in knowing downtown. We bought when everybody else thought downtown was dead, back in the early 1970s. Every area has its ups and downs." In fact, The Mathews Company made its first office move to downtown Nashville in 1980, and though the company has changed buildings, it has remained a fixture in the downtown area. "We're committed to being downtown because we believe in it," he said.

Over the years, Mr. Mathews has been responsible for developing One Nashville Place, Commerce Center, and the J.C. Bradford Building and Commerce Street Parking Facility. He owned the property where the AT&T Tower stands today, and his company has managed several renovations and restorations in the historic Second Avenue district, an area that he helped preserve in the 1970s. He also served as managing partner of the Ryman Redevelopment area and managing partner of the Gateway Partnership, two organizations that played crucial roles in the controlled and strategic growth of downtown Nashville.

"I've been here 31 years, and what I enjoy most is working with Bert, Walker, and Mr. Mathews," says Mike King, director of maintenance. "They're family-oriented and very good to their people."

A graduate of Vanderbilt University, he holds a bachelor of science degree in engineering. Over the years, he has been actively involved in a number of professional and civic organizations, including the Urban Land Institute, Society of International Business Fellows, Land Trust of Tennessee, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Rotary Club of Nashville. He is a past chairman of the board for Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, past chairman of the advisory council for the Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Council, and a past president for Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Fine Arts Center, Leadership Nashville, and Cumberland Museum and Science Center, which is now Adventure Science Center. Mr. Mathews is also a lifetime member and past president of The Ensworth School board of trustees. He and his wife, Alice, have three children, Bert, Walker and Lise Bohannan.