|
Dr. Danny Raymond Mason was born Jan. 6, 1938 in Monahans as one of five children to Charlie Everett and Trudie Mae Mason. Upon graduation from Monahans High School in 1957, he attended Odessa College on a golf scholarship and married Betty Ann Pickett in June of 1958. Transferring to Lamar University in January 1959 on a golf scholarship, Danny was a member of the 1960 NAIA National Champion team and earned his B.S. in Physical Education with biology minor in May 1961. After summer graduate courses at Stephen F. Austin University, he accepted a teaching fellowship at Texas A&M University, completing his M. Ed. and state guidance counselors' certificate in May 1962. Danny then taught at A&M for two years before moving to Lubbock to take a position as Instructor for the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, and golf coach for the Athletic Department at Texas Tech University in 1964. After two years he took a position as Instructor and golf coach at the University of Arkansas while completing a Doctorate in Education. Returning to Texas Tech in 1969, he coached the golf team until 1980 and was Associate Professor until retiring in 2000. He was a thirty-one year member of Phi Delta Kappa Educational fraternity, chairman 1989, and faculty sponsor for Phi Epsilon Kappa for twenty-nine Years. He was a member of Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, holding several offices for thirty-four years. He served twice on the faculty senate, twelve years on the National Golf Foundation Board of Educators, and eight years on the National Kidney Foundation Board of Directors for Region II. He was founder and director of the Junior Golf Academy for fifteen years and Coaches Golf Academy for eighteen years through the Texas Tech Continuing Education Division at Junction. Under Danny's coaching, the Texas Tech golf team qualified for four NCAA tournaments. He was inducted into the Texas Tech Athletic Hall of Honor and awarded the title of Associate Professor Emeritus in 2002. He won five Texas Transplant Games golf tournaments and participated in the National Kidney Foundation golf tournament three times. He was voted father of the year in 1968 at Springdale Baptist Church and again in 1978 at Melonie Park Church. He served as a deacon in the Baptist Church for over 40 years and also served on the Mission board at Melonie Park Church. Those left to cherish Danny's memory are his wife, Betty Mason of Lubbock; children, Rodney Mason of Lake Jackson, Michele Southerland of Midland, and Kent Mason of Lubbock; sister, Lena Davis of Mesa, Ariz.; and grandchildren, Joshua, Ashley, Rachal, Brenden, Braden and Sloane. The family suggest memorials be made to Melonie Park Church Library Fund and Missions Fund 6002 Indiana Ave, Lubbock, TX 79413 and the National Kidney Foundation Of West Texas 4601 50th Street Ste 101 Lubbock, TX 79414. Friends,
When Judy Taylor called and informed me of Danny’s death, it was a very sad day for me. Danny was nearly a complete opposite of me, but we shared a love of golf. I don’t remember when we first met but from 1950 through 1959 I spent more time with Danny than I did with my parents.
Danny’s father ran a one man barber shop located just south of the old Monahans Drug Store. We didn’t have a lot of money to pay for our golf so Danny and I started out gathering pop bottles to sell at two cents each to pay for our green fees, one dollar. We soon convinced Grady Kidd, the golf professional, that we could work the mowers even at our very young ages. I mowed the tees and fringes and Danny mowed the greens. We eventually did any and all golf course work including chemicals and construction. As we got into our mid-teens, football and basketball separated us for part of the year, but we always came together again as spring approached. Danny was one fine player and I rarely beat him in competition. We were roommates at Odessa College with golf scholarships. After one year Danny went to Lamar Tech to finish his Collegiate golf career. Danny’s work took him to Arkansas as a professor and golf coach, then to Texas Tech. Danny’s love of golf was exceeded only by his love for Betty and his deep religious belief. How do you reconcile a relationship that we, as almost opposites, enjoyed, well I loved him! Jerry (Mobley) I appreciated Jerry's comments a lot. I have mentioned to some of you previously that Danny is my number 1 hero out of all our class. I had the pleasure of talking to him one-on-one for about an hour at our reunion, and I came away completely humbled at what a stumble-bum I am compared to his life's accomplishments. (I tried to send you a copy of his obit, which lists some of his.)
Jerry mentioned that they didn't have money to support their golf aspirations. Jerry was poor, I was poor, and Mike was poor, but Danny was POOR. I don't believe that they even had a car for most of that period. His mom had diabetes, which was the root of Danny's health problems also, and she had lost both legs by the time we graduated. His younger brother was borderline retarded, so they didn't have much going for them. Danny probably had the highest moral standards of the boys in our class, an honor that didn't rate at particularly a high premium with us at that time.
Boy, look at what he did with what he had, though.
Bob (Ward)
What sad news, I join all our classmates in remembrance of Danny. He was an inspiration to me as well. Danny and I went way back to the days of marbles, spinning tops, and Halloween trick-or-teat dressed as "Hobos". We didn't know we were poor at the time; because we were having too much fun! Our sympathy to Betty and family. Mike (Ethridge)
Dear Friends, I add a brief footnote to the comments so elegantly expressed by Mobley and Ward regarding the impact Danny had on their lives. Danny's personal kindness to me in elementary school at South Ward resulted in a deep respect that continued to grow as we matured in high school. We were never close friends, but I admired him from a distance as he persevered in the face of incredible adversity. He was an inspiration to me when he began dating Betty Ann and started attending Monahans Baptist Church. Julia, Patsy,Jimmy Rex, Raymond Gerry and several others were also faithful members. It was evident to all that Danny's faith and commitment to Jesus was sincere. I suspect that Betty Ann was instrumental in leading him to be saved. What a guy. I never saw him waver as I was inclined to do quite often. God used him as a role model for me. I didn't see Danny for 40 odd years, but I was aware of his wherebouts and his magnificent accomplishments. Occasionally my brother would send a clipping from the Lubbock paper about him. I was always proud for him. The most astonishing fact about his personality, to me, was his humility. The absence of ego established what a class act he was. Hundreds, if not thousands of friends/students/associates are probably mourning his death. What a testimony for a life well lived. Thanks Danny,Vaya Con Dios......... (Bill Rains) |
