Jackson native brings more than four decades of pageant experience, 30-plus years in education, military service and deep community roots to the Chamber’s signature event
JACKSON, TENN. — Mal Matthews will open the Legacy Chamber of West Tennessee’s 15th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament by singing the National Anthem, bringing a familiar Jackson voice and a long record of community service to this year’s event.
For Matthews, the appearance represents another connection to an institution and a community that have been part of his life for decades. A Jackson native and 1985 graduate of Jackson Central-Merry High School, Matthews has spent more than 30 years as an educator with the Jackson-Madison County School System while also maintaining longstanding ties to Tennessee’s pageant community, the military and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
A Jackson Career Built on Service
Matthews grew up in Jackson and has continued to work in the community throughout his professional career. His more than three decades in JMCSS have placed him in the classroom and around generations of Jackson-area students and families.
His connection to education has also extended beyond the classroom. Matthews has been involved in local education organizations and community activities, including leadership with the Jackson-Madison County Education Association. His work has kept him connected to one of the community’s largest public institutions.
That local connection is central to understanding Matthews’ selection for the Chamber’s tournament. He is not a newcomer being brought in for a single appearance. His professional and civic life has been built in Jackson.
Four Decades in Tennessee Pageantry
Matthews’ involvement with Tennessee pageantry began when he was just 14 years old.
In 1981, he started as a production assistant with the Miss Tennessee pageant. More than four decades later, he remains involved with the pageant tradition and currently serves in a community outreach role with Miss Tennessee Volunteer.
His years with the organization have included service on its board of directors and a front-row view of how the pageant has developed over several generations. In 2024, The Jackson Sun reported that Matthews had been involved with Jackson’s pageants since 1981 and described his role in the organization’s continued growth.
The Miss Tennessee Volunteer organization is now a Jackson-based statewide scholarship program focused on education, opportunity and service. Its current program continues to be hosted at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, keeping the pageant closely connected to the city where Matthews has spent much of his life.
Matthews’ National Anthem performances have become another part of that history. In March 2025, The Jackson Sun reported that he opened the Miss Teen Volunteer America competition at the Carl Perkins Civic Center by singing the National Anthem.
Service Beyond the Stage
The National Anthem will be performed at a business and community event, but Matthews’ background extends well beyond pageantry.
He is a 23-year veteran of the National Guard, adding more than two decades of military service to a career already rooted in public education and community involvement. That record of service was recognized again in 2026, when Matthews received the Stacy McIntyre Volunteer of the Year Award during the Miss Volunteer Pageant’s summer program. The recognition added another distinction to a relationship with the pageant organization that has spanned more than four decades.
Matthews is also a 35-year member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., another longstanding connection that has kept him involved with people and organizations throughout Jackson and beyond.
Taken together, those experiences give context to his role at the Legacy Chamber’s tournament. Education, military service, fraternity life and pageantry have each placed Matthews in different settings where leadership, responsibility and relationships matter.
Opening the Chamber’s 15th Tournament
The Legacy Chamber’s Celebrity Golf Tournament brings together business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate partners, community leaders, Chamber members and supporters of the West Tennessee business community.
The 15th annual tournament marks another year of the Chamber using the event to bring people together outside the traditional business setting and create opportunities for relationships and visibility across the region.
Having Matthews sing the National Anthem places a distinctly Jackson connection at the helm of that gathering.
Join Us for the 15th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament
The Legacy Chamber of West Tennessee invites businesses, community leaders, and supporters to be part of the 15th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament.
Individual tickets start at $125.
Team sponsorships are available for $500.
Whether you’re joining us as an individual or bringing your team to the course, your participation helps support the continued work of the Legacy Chamber and its commitment to strengthening business, leadership, and opportunity throughout West Tennessee.
Secure Your Spot
Tickets and team sponsorships are available online.
Visit LegacyChamberWestTN.org to purchase your tickets or register your team today.
Individual | Starting at $125
Team Sponsor | $500
Spaces are limited. Secure your place at the 15th Annual Celebrity Golf Tournament today.