[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 164 (Wednesday, December 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1967]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MAYOR HARRY MASON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2012

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the contributions of a 
remarkable public servant and dear friend, Mayor Harry Mason. In 
November, Mayor Mason retired after 20 years as chief executive of Pine 
Hill, Alabama.
  In his best-selling 1998 book, The Greatest Generation, former NBC 
Television anchor Tom Brokaw told the story of what he believed was the 
greatest generation any society has ever produced. ``. . . These men 
and women fought not for fame and recognition, but because it was the 
right thing to do. When they came back they rebuilt America into a 
superpower.''
  Harry Mason was a product of that historic generation; a native of 
Southwest Alabama, a hardworking local businessman, and citizen who 
stepped up to serve his country and his home town because it was the 
right thing to do.
  As an assistant engineer in the Merchant Marine during World War II, 
Harry was aboard the S.S. Sea Porpoise when it landed 3,000 troops on 
the beaches of Normandy during the second wave of the famous D-Day 
invasion to liberate France. On July 5, 1944, the S.S. Sea Porpoise was 
damaged by a German mine. The ship's complement of 159 crew and 
passengers, including Harry, were uninjured and the ship survived.
  When he returned stateside to civilian life, like so many others of 
our ``Greatest Generation'' Harry eagerly rejoined the workforce 
helping his father run the family business. He invested his life and 
his heart in Pine Hill, and according to a recent article in the 
Thomasville Times, Harry wouldn't have had it any other way. ``Except 
for the war, I never even entertained a thought of going somewhere 
else,'' he told the paper.
  It wasn't long before Harry turned his passion to public service, 
first as a member of the Wilcox County Board of Education during the 
tumultuous 1960s and 70s. In 1991, he left his family business of 
running the Economy Store and instead ran for mayor.
  Looking back at 20 years of leading his town, he has much for which 
to be proud. An expansion of the Pine Hill's water and sewer system and 
city limits come to mind. Perhaps most notably during his last year in 
office, Pine Hill landed one of the largest industries to come to 
Southwest Alabama in years. Harry joined state and local officials in 
welcoming Golden Dragon Copper to the Pine Hill area in February. When 
completed, this new factory is expected to employ 300 workers with the 
potential to reach 500.
  An active presence in the community, Mayor Harry Mason has also 
served as a member of the board of the Bank of Pine Hill. However, of 
all his many accomplishments, Harry points to his 20 years' service as 
chief of the Pine Hill Volunteer Fire Department as his greatest.
  On behalf of the people of south Alabama, I wish Harry and his 
wonderful wife, Mittie, the very best for a well-deserved and duly-
earned retirement.

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