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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The life of an esteemed NFL and college football |
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official drew to a close with the passing of Mason L. Cashion Jr. on |
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February 10, 2019, at the age of 87; and |
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WHEREAS, "Red" Cashion was born in College Station on |
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November 10, 1931, to Mason and Winnie Cashion, and he grew up with |
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the companionship of a brother, James; a multisport athlete at A&M |
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Consolidated High School, he went on to attend Texas A&M University |
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on a baseball scholarship and graduated in 1953; he was |
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commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and spent much |
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of his four-year military tenure with the National Security Agency; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cashion began officiating junior high football |
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games while still a Texas A&M student, but his initial tenure |
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calling Southland Conference college games in the 1960s came to an |
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end after football coaches complained about his aloof demeanor on |
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the field; determined to make a change, he adopted an enthusiastic |
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approach to his work, and he returned to officiating in the college |
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ranks before joining the NFL in 1972; initially a line judge, he was |
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promoted to referee in 1976, and he went on to call more than 500 |
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games over the course of 25 years, including Super Bowls XX and XXX; |
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his trademark was his elongated "first dowwwwn" call, delivered in |
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a Brazos Valley drawl, which became a favorite of TV audiences; |
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after retiring in 1997, he remained active with the league, |
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training officials on a paid and volunteer basis; and |
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WHEREAS, Highly respected by his peers, Mr. Cashion served as |
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president of the Professional Referees Association and garnered the |
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NFL's prestigious Art McNally Award; moreover, he was inducted into |
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the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, and the football officials' |
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locker room at Texas A&M's Kyle Field bears his name; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Cashion enjoyed the love and support of his |
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first wife, Lou Burgess Cashion, during their 47 years together; |
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following her death, he was fortunate enough to find love again and |
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shared a rewarding marriage with Marie Cashion; he took great pride |
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in his children, James, Sharon, Joyce, and Shelley, as well as in |
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his six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; a valued member |
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of the Bryan-College Station community, he helped found the |
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Burgess, Cashion & Haddox insurance business, which later became |
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Anco Insurance, and he was a member of several area congregations |
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through the years, most recently A&M United Methodist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, While Red Cashion's passing brings great sadness to |
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all who had the good fortune to know him, his accomplishments will |
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continue to be remembered and admired for many years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Mason L. Cashion Jr. |
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and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and friends; and, be |
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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 Red |
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Cashion. |