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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and productive life drew to a close with the |
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passing of James Rutledge Mason of Waxahachie on March 31, 2011, at |
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the age of 96; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Biardstown in Lamar County on July 13, 1914, |
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Mr. Mason was the son of Luther Emerson Mason and Lila Mae Mason; he |
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graduated from Paris High School in 1931 and attended Paris Junior |
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College before completing his bachelor's degree in business |
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administration at The University of Texas at Austin; on June 1, |
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1940, he married the former Dora Frances Whitehead, and they later |
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became the parents of two children, James and Lila Jean; Mr. and |
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Mrs. Mason shared a fulfilling relationship of more than 60 years |
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before her passing in 2001; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Mason served his country in the United States |
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Army during World War II; a sergeant (E-5), he was stationed in the |
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Pacific theater and landed on Okinawa on April 3, 1945; he served |
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there until the end of the war and received numerous commendations, |
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among them the Rifle and Carbine Expert Medal, the World War II |
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Victory Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two |
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battle stars for the Philippines and Okinawa campaigns; and |
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WHEREAS, A distinguished member of the banking industry for |
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four decades, Mr. Mason began his career as a teller at Paris |
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National Bank in 1936; he was later employed by Liberty State Bank |
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and National City Bank in Dallas; after earning his graduate |
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certificate from the American Institute of Banking with a major in |
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investments in 1955, he went on to receive his diploma with the |
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first graduating class of the Southwestern Graduate School of |
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Banking at Southern Methodist University; he retired in 1976 as |
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vice president of Republic National Bank of Dallas; and |
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WHEREAS, This civic-minded Texan was deeply committed to his |
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community; in addition to volunteering for Meals on Wheels, the |
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Baylor Hospital of Waxahachie Auxiliary, and Pleasant Manor Living |
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Center, he supported such charities as the Salvation Army, the USO, |
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and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and he and his wife worked |
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together with great energy and dedication in behalf of political |
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campaigns; moreover, Mr. Mason was a valued member of Central |
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Presbyterian Church and served his faith as a Sunday school |
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teacher, member of the session, and treasurer; he was also a life |
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member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars; his |
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hobbies included fishing and hunting, and he was a charter fan of |
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the Texas Rangers; and |
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WHEREAS, James Mason made a positive difference in the lives |
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of others, and those who were privileged to share in his love and |
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friendship will forever treasure their memories of his kindness, |
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compassion, and devotion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of James Rutledge |
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Mason and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: |
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to his son, Captain James Rutledge Mason, Jr., (United States Navy, |
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Retired), and his wife, Martha; to his daughter, Lila Jean Mason |
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Blackwell, and her husband, Garry; to his grandchildren, James |
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Rutledge Mason III, Garry W. Blackwell, Jr., Jennifer Gail |
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Chauncey, Stephen Mason Blackwell, and Jeffrey Malvin Blackwell; to |
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his great-grandchildren, Reagan, Reeves, Jessica, and Thatcher |
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Blackwell, James Rutledge Mason IV and William Mason, and Brooke, |
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Mason, and Parker Chauncey; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of James |
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Rutledge Mason. |