Walter Paul Muther, 87, a loquacious, cigar-chomping lobbyist who represented industry on Beacon Hill for 37 years, died Wed Mar 9, 2005 at epoch Senior Healthcare at Chestnut Hill. As general counsel and president of Associated Industries of Mass, he was such a figure at the State House that his organization was known simply as “Walter” to industry insiders. He was a colorful character who often brought a Great Dane named Chelsea to the office with him. “I think he even brought the dog to the State House a couple of times” said his son Paul of Toronto.
Mr. Muther was most active during what he called the “referendum era” of the 1960s and 1970s, when he led successful fights against measures for a graduated state income tax and for a flat electricity rate that would have eliminated industrial volume discounts. He love to talk, and disagree widely, whether testifying before committees or buttonholing legislators in the corridors of the State House. Whether it actually happened this way or not, one story was told so often that it came to be accepted as an example of his flamboyance: He once stood on his head at the back of a conference room to gain the attention of former Senate president Kevin Harrington, who was ignoring him.
A resident of Newton, he drove to his appointments in a 1931 Model A Ford “woodie” station wagon. After snowstorms, he sometimes pulled his children around in a toboggan with the wagon. “He was a character in the good sense of the word” said Brian R. Gilmore, executive vice president of AIM. Mr. Muther was born in Newton. After graduating from Harvard College in 1040, he was a social worker in the North End before serving in the Army during WW II. Following his military service, he graduated from Harvard Law School. He worked in the insurance industry before becoming general counsel to AIM in 1951. He was the lobbying group’s president from 1979 until retiring in 1988. Mr. Muther found working with legislators fascinating. “It is a world of constant controversy, where institutional relationships are generally inadequate to the changing tasks, personalities are stronger than abilities, and power is ever shifting-a virtual microcosm of the world today”, he wrote in his 25th anniversary report of his class at Harvard. “It is close to the mainstream of our political life, if there is such a thing, and significant achievements are most usually colored or buried in group myth”.
One accomplishment not buried in myth was the passage of the 88th Article of Amendment to the state Constitution. Championed by Mr. Muther, the amendment allows cities and towns to offer incentives for industrial development. It was approved in 1966. “It was one of the most notable things Walter achieved,” Gilmore said.
His wife of 63 years, Ruth Seidel Muther, died in Oct 2004. He is survived by his sons Paul of Toronto, Geoffrey of Newton, his daughter Catherine of San Francisco; 10 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the family residence of 55 years at 133 Gibbs St. Newton Centre on Sun March 13 between 1-5 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Newton Conservators Inc. Ordway Park Fund P.O. Box 590011 Newton MA 02459 or the Alzheimers Assoc. 36 Cameron St Cambridge MA 02140.