MARION TWP — An elderly man with dementia, missing for about 20 hours, was found this morning in woods a mile or so from his home in the township.

Raymond D. Mathews, 84, was “awake and breathing,” a family friend said, but possibly suffering hypothermia.

A medical helicopter was reportedly to fly him to a hospital for treatment.

State police confirmed Matthews, who was missing since about 2 p.m. Tuesday, was found. They did not immediately release any other details.

Before finding him, rescuers admitted their renewed search this morning for Mathews began with a sense of growing urgency.

“The temperatures dropped to about 35 degrees (Tuesday) night,” said Chief Joe Fitzgerald of the Marion Township Volunteer Fire Company. “He wasn't dressed for the cold weather.”

Mathews, a former standout player for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was last seen walking on the side of White Oak Road in Marion Township.

He takes daily walks on the road, where he lives with his wife, daughter and grandson on about 100 acres, said Dennis Hutchison of Harrisville, a family friend.

“He'd walk to the end of the lane, maybe a half mile, then walk back home,” Hutchison said.

On Tuesday afternoon, when he did not return home, family and friends went out looking for him.

When they couldn't find him, they notified state police. Soon after, Fitzgerald helped coordinate the search operation in and around the area of Allison Road.

Fitzgerald estimated the search encompassed a three-mile area.

About 30 volunteer firefighters from several local departments participated in the search. Six canines from four different rescue dog teams and a state police helicopter with night vision-type technology also assisted.

“It's very rural and real swampy,” Fitzgerald said of the search area.

The operation was called off about 8 p.m.

Mathews did not take any medication, authorities and friends said, and was in generally good health and considered “active” for his age.

A native of Dayton, Armstrong County, and father of five, Mathews was a Steelers player during the 1950s and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1952 and 1955.

He played nine seasons in the National Football League, all for the Steelers between 1951 and 1959.

He had 230 receptions for 3,919 yards and 34 touchdowns during his career. He ranks 10th on the Steelers receiving yards list — one slot ahead of Santonio Holmes and one slot behind Mike Wallace.

In 2007, Mathews was named to the Steelers' legends team, chosen by the franchise as its best players from its founding in 1933 until 1970.

The team honors those who played prominent roles in the club's history but were not part of their four Super Bowl-winning teams in the 1970s.

Among the other offensive players on the legends team included quarterback Bobby Layne and running backs John Henry Johnson and Dick Hoak.

Following his retirement from pro football, he bought a bar and restaurant named My Brother's Place in the Grove City area outlet mall. The bar remains a family business.