Last fall, Mark Carter, a geologist with the United States Geological Survey, was kayaking along the Roanoke River near Weldon, North Carolina. During his survey, Carter stumbled upon a small metal dog tag, gleaming from the sediment in a shallow stream. Upon closer inspection, he found the inscription: "Kent Mathewson, Sigma Nu House, Chapel Hill N.C." Intrigued by his find, Carter pocketed the tag, which eventually made its way into the hands of his wife, Aina, who found it while tending to the laundry. Captivated by the mystery, Aina initiated a quest to track down the tag's owner.
Her search led her to Salem, Oregon, where she contacted Worth Mathewson, the son of the tag's original owner. Worth then connected with his brother, Kent Mathewson II, in Mayville, New York. Kent, a retired LSU geography professor, was astounded by the discovery. He confirmed that the tag belonged to his father through the connection to Sigma Nu and, with his wife Kathy’s assistance, deduced that the tag may have been among a number of stolen items when Mathewson’s childhood family home was broken into many years ago.
In January 1950, just months after Kent Mathewson Sr. had moved his family to Martinsville, the tranquility of their new home was shattered. Returning from a trip on the evening of January 28, 1950, Mathewson Sr. and his wife discovered their home had been ransacked. The thieves made off with war bonds, cash, cigarettes, and a lockbox. They even raided the kitchen freezer, taking frozen quail, venison, and beef.
That same night, just a few blocks away, four teenagers returning from a basketball game at Martinsville High School stumbled
upon the burglars at the home of Grady Moore on Starling Avenue. The thieves, caught in the act, threatened the teens at gunpoint, forcing them to lie on the floor while they stole a watch and some cash.
By April that same year, it was clear that the Mathewsons and the Moores were just two of nearly 200 victims of Billy and Jacqueline Hussey, a couple from High Point, North Carolina, whose cross-country crime spree had earned them the nickname “Tourist Bandits.” The Husseys were eventually captured in San Diego on May 27, 1950, after confessing to their string of burglaries, with Jacqueline’s diary providing a detailed account of their crimes.
While some of the stolen items were recovered, the fraternity dog tag was never mentioned among them. But when Aina Carter tracked down the Mathewson sons, the discovery set off a chain of memories. With Aina and Kathy’s help, Mathewson II amassed dozens of newspaper articles about the Husseys, many reporting that stolen items from Martinsville were found along U.S. 220 between Martinsville and Ridgeway. They speculated that the bandits may have stopped at the Smith River Bridge or Marrowbone Creek to assess their loot. Realizing the dog tag had Kent Mathewson’s name on it, they likely discarded it into the water to avoid being connected to the burglary.
Mathewson II and Mark Carter speculate that the dog tag traveled an astonishing distance—possibly 250 miles—as it made its three-quarter century journey. The dog tag likely traced a winding path from Marrowbone Creek in Henry County. From there, the waters merge into the Smith River, then continue through the Dan River and Roanoke River, eventually flowing into Buggs Island Lake and onward to Weldon. Both Mathewson and Carter suspect that the periodic release of water from dams along the route likely played a role in helping objects like the dog tag make their way downstream.
As for the Husseys, their story didn’t end with their capture. Billy Hussey was sentenced to life at San Quentin, while Jacqueline received a sentence of five to 10 years in Tehachapi Women’s Prison. But by 1953, the couple had divorced, and Billy was back in High Point, having been paroled. He soon returned to a life of crime, this time as a professional safecracker, before eventually being caught again. He died in 1986.
Kent Mathewson, Keeper of The Flame
While the tale of a small piece of fraternity memorabilia making its improbable journey downriver and across time is certainly captivating, the story becomes even more intriguing when you consider the man behind the name on the dog tag. Kent Mathewson wasn’t just any name; he was one of the most esteemed figures in city management and regional planning.
Kent Mathewson (NC State/UNC-Chapel Hill) was a pioneering figure in public administration and city management, with a career marked by innovation and leadership. He earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from UNC-Chapel Hill, a program created specifically for him, which combined studies in civil engineering, business administration, and law. Due to the requirements of the coursework and the lack of engineering classes offered at UNC, Mathewson spent a full year at NC State University, where he was invited to join the Beta Tau Chapter. He affiliated with the Psi Chapter when he transferred back to UNC to finish his senior year.
Starting as a student worker in San Diego, Mathewson introduced a new approach to municipal reporting, which brought him nationwide recognition. His career continued to rise as he served as city manager in Asheboro, NC, and Martinsville, VA, where he was known for his forward-thinking leadership. In Salem, OR, Mathewson organized the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments, the first regional planning agency of its kind, which set a precedent for similar efforts nationwide.
Later, Mathewson's work caught the attention of Henry Ford II, leading to his role as head of the Metropolitan Fund in Detroit, where he collaborated with government and business leaders to solve metropolitan issues. After overcoming a major health challenge, he transitioned to academia and continued to contribute to his community by founding the Davie County Foundation, which played a key role in establishing a community college and saving a local hospital.
In April 2000, Mathewson was presented with the first-ever “Keeper of the Flame” Award, given jointly by the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Society for Public Administration, at the National Public Service Awards ceremony in San Diego in recognition of his lifetime achievement.
Throughout his life, Mathewson remained committed to public service and is fondly remembered for his contributions to city management, regional planning, and community development.