Dr. Robert A, Matthews, a former New Orleans medical school professor who was active in reorganizing the training program of Louisiana state mental hospitals, has been killed in a New Jersey automobile accident.
Dr. Matthews, 58, was killed Friday in a two-car collision on Black Horse Pike six miles south of. Williamstown. His daughter, Jean, 19, his mother Kathryn, and the driver of another car were injured. From 1950 to 1956, Dr. Matthews was head of the department of neurology and psychiatry at the Louisiana State university school of medicine.
While here, he was instrumental in a move to reorganize the training program at state mental hospitals, according to Dr. Charles Watkins, the present department head at LSU. WROTE BOOKLET
Also, Dr. Matthews and Dr. Loyd Rowland, secretary of the Louisiana Association for Mental Health, wrote a booklet for police officers explaining how to cope with mentally disturbed persons.
The booklet has since been distributed internationally.
Dr. Matthews also set up the course at the New Orleans police department's academy concerning the handling of the mentally ill.
In 1956, the doctor left New Orleans to become Pennsylvania's first mental health commissioner. In addition, he was a clinical professor of psychiatry at Jefferson Medical college in Philadelphia.
Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday in Philadelphia at the Oliver Bairs Funeral Home. ,:
Miss Matthews was reported in good condition in Jefferson hospital with a brain concussion and dislocated right hip. She is engaged to a New Orleans man. DRIVER ASLEEP
Dr. Matthews' mother was admitted to the hospital with a fractured left arm and cuts.
Police said the Matthews car was struck by a car driven by Robert Lewis, 18, Glenside, Pa., who apparently fell asleep at the wheel.
During his term as Pennsylvania mental ' health commissioner, from September 1956 to July 1958, Dr. Matthews administered 17 state hospitals and other facilities for 50,000 mental patients. In 1960, he was president of the Pennsylvania Psychiatry Society.
Among survivors are his widow and four other children.
PHOTO: DR ROBERT A. MATTHEWS
