Samuel I. Mason

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Samuel I. Mason, age 84, a native and longtime Judge of Fort Scott, died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, at Mercy Hospital. He was born on March 23, 1933, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Raymond and Florence Wyckoff Mason. He graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1951. He was an avid student attending Fort Scott Community College, Pittsburg State University, and the Judicial College of Reno, Nev. He married Lora E. Dryer on Oct. 30, 1954, in Fort Scott. He worked for the railroad in his early years. At the age of 31, Sam became the youngest district magistrate judge in Kansas. He would continue to serve in this capacity until retiring in 1996 after 33 years. His accomplishments include: Jaycee’s president in 1965, was instrumental in starting a yearly rodeo and building the rodeo grounds, started a boy’s home by forming a board and raising funds, formed the Tri-Valley board, formed SEK Mental Health board in five counties, the executive director for SEKCAP, president of the FSHS Alumni Association, president of Administrative Board of the Methodist Church, co-writer of legislation for Meals on Wheels and Transportation in Kansas, president of the Probate Judges Association of Kansas, program director of SEK Correctional Facility and formed the board for CASA. Several awards include: Jaycee of the Year, Boss of the Year by the Jaycees, Outstanding Non-Attorney Judge in the United States, Mental Health Board for 16 years, served on the committee that wrote the forms on Conservative and Guardianships of the State of Kansas, interviewed for Secretary of Corrections by Governor Finney, and was vice-president of the Highway 69 Association. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church.

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