The award was presented by Bill Buckner and District III FCA Coordinator Dean Wright at the FCA breakfast held at the MAIS Coaches Clinic.  Mr. Wright recounted Mason’s coaching, teaching, and administrative career, as well as, his 25 year involvement with FCA.  He described Mason’s leadership as dynamic and praised him for his dedication to young people through FCA. 

In acceptance of the award, Mason thanked many of the people who had influenced his life including his high school coaches Richard Elam and Rick Clark.  He gave special thanks to Dean Wright and Bill Buckner for the support and inspiration they have given him through FCA.  Mason also had sincere words of thanks for the Indianola Academy coaching staff, Tommy Nester, Shan Wright, Clete Putnam, Stacey Wilson, Paul Ervin, and Ray Bridges, as well as, Headmaster Sammy Henderson for the encouragement and Christian example they display to everyone at IA.  He thanked the young people of the IA FCA huddle for blessing his life in a powerful way through their devotion to Christ and love for each other.  Mason also gave special thanks to his wife Suzanne and his son David for always being there to support, encourage, and pray for him.

Mason was deeply moved by this honor and shared his faith in Christ and what the Lord has done in his life.  He explained that at every point in his life when he needed someone, the Lord placed special people in his life to encourage and inspire him.  Because those special people made a difference in his life as a young man, he does his best to encourage and inspire the young people he works with everyday.  He also challenged the coaches in attendance to make a commitment to FCA, encourage the young people they work with to follow Christ, and to be Christian examples in their school and community.