STOUGHTON, WIS. – For one southern Wisconsin businessman, he has figured out a way to combine his love of owning his own business with his love of flying small airplanes.
John Matson, 58, begins each business day by pulling his 1970 180 hp Cessna 172 Skyhawk out of its hangar at Matson Airport (2W16), located just outside of Stoughton, Wisconsin, and commuting to his manufacturing plant in Portage, Wis., 50 miles to the northwest. The flight takes him less than 30 minutes. By car with rush hour traffic around Madison, it would take him at least an hour, and would not be nearly as much fun and safe as flying.
Pete and Pearl Nelson (founders of Nelson Muffler of Stoughton) established the private/public-use airport in Stoughton in 1948. It has a 2500 X 100 ft. grass runway. Matson’s parents, Tom and Jeanne Matson, purchased the farm that includes the airport in 1956. Matson lives next to the airport. He has even eliminated the commute once he arrives in Portage, as his business is located immediately adjacent to the airport. Matson flies in, ties down his C172 mid-field, then walks one block to the front door of his manufacturing facility where the slogan “Made In America” comes alive each day!
Matson started flying in 1971. His flight instructor was Roger Amundson, who is featured elsewhere in this issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine.
“Roger gave my son, Mark, a logbook for his birthday and he used it to go get his private pilot certificate,” said Matson. “When I say his birthday, I mean the day he was born!”
Matson got his start in business as a salesman for Stoughton Trailers. He shared flying duties with company owner, Don Wahlin, flying customers back and forth in a pressurized 58P Baron. Matson bought Matrex Mold and Tool, Inc. with Patrick Odette in 1995, realizing his college dream of owning his own business. Matson has a degree in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Odette is also a pilot, so when not talking shop, Matson and Odette are talking about flying!
On weekends and during summer evenings, Matson enjoys flying aerobatics in his S1S Pitts, an airplane he built with Doug Pfundheller, Mark Pfundheller, Ron Koscal and Keith Swalheim. Help was also provided by local builders Roger Amundson, Bill Amundson and Dick (Pete) Peterson.
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