Richard Mason was a strong believer in the importance of education. He was a member of the class of 1948 of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and earned his bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1952. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Navy and completed Officers' Training School, before serving on the destroyer USS Forrest B. Royal. He went on to earn his MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1957.

Mr. Mason began a long and successful career in the hand-tool manufacturing industry with Stanley Tools in New Britain, Connecticut, where he rose to Vice President of Manufacturing before joining The Ames Company in Parkersburg in 1975. He retired from The Ames Company as President in 1991. During his career, Mr. Mason was very involved in industry and trade organizations and was a former President of The American Hardware Manufacturers Association and a former member of the Board of Directors of The Emery-Waterhouse Company in Portland.

Mr. Mason was a singer and while at Yale was a member of the now 150 year-old Yale Glee Club and a Whiffenpoof in the class of 1952. Throughout his singing career he sang for everything from his dinner, to dignitaries, and to United States Presidents. He continued singing as a member of numerous choirs, most notably Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Helena's Episcopal Church in Beaufort, South Carolina, and St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Kennebunkport.

Mr. Mason's dedication to the church is illustrated by his Vestry service and his service as Senior Warden of Trinity and St. Ann's, and in other roles including search committees and capital campaigns. Mr. Mason also served on the Board of Directors of the Parkersburg Arts Center and West Virginia's Independent Colleges and Universities. He was an active member of the Rotary Club in Kennebunkport and a volunteer firefighter on Fripp Island and with the Goose Rocks Beach Fire Department.

Mr. Mason loved the game of golf. He was a longtime member of the Parkersburg Country Club and the golf courses on Fripp Island and Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, where he is a former Senior Men's Club Champion. He also competed in the Southern Maine Seniors. When he wasn't playing golf, attending church choir practice, or singing at church services, he was challenged by the 'New York Times' Sunday crossword puzzle.

Mr. Mason also was a longtime member of the board of directors of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. This fund was established to remember Mr. Mason and his life. It will be used to support the Foundation's administration.