Arapahoe 1936 high school graduate. His 23-4 1/2 long jump in the 1936 state meet was far ahead of the times and was the state record until a Hall of Famer Gale Sayers came along in 1961 and posted the 24-10 1/2 record that stands yet today. Mather was a four-year high school star in football and track; Class C 220-yard dash champion in 1936.  For many years, he had state and class high school records in the long jump and still has records in the long jump and 200 meters at Arapahoe High School and the Peru State College record in 100 meters. He was inducted into PSC Athletic Hall of Fame as individual in 1989 and with the 1940 football team in 1990.