His students remembered him as, " A gentle, compassionate man . . . [ who ] had a deep, abiding interest in young people . " Similarly, one of his thesis advisees said, " I came to know, admire, and respect Professor Mason as a thinker, friend, personal adviser, and confidant . " Mason also served his community as the chairman of the Faculty Committee on Student Environment, a member of the Faculty Committee on Education in the Face of Poverty and Segregation, and a leader of underprivileged youth in the Upward Bound program.
