Robert L. Mason
Inducted in 1996

Cheyenne High School 1951-1953

Laramie High School 1955-1960

Sheridan College 1961-1962

Big Bend College 1962-1973

Big Bend College 1980-1986

Robert Mason did not begin his wrestling career until his freshmen year at the University of Wyoming. Burns High School in Wyoming did not have a wrestling program. Robert participated in football, basketball and baseball while at Burns until his graduation in 1947. At the University of Wyoming, he was twice the 165 pound champion of the Western States Athletic Conference Tournament and placed second once. Robert was the team captain his junior and senior seasons and was twice a fourth place finisher at the NCAA tournament.

Robert's high school coaching career started in 1951 at Cheyenne High School where he compiled a 14-3 dual meet record. He moved to Laramie High School in 1955 where hi teams earned a 40-9-1 record. In his seven years of high school coaching, his teams won 3 Wyoming state championships.

Robert moved on to the college level at Sheridan College where he started the wrestling program in 1961. The next season, he moved to Moses Lake and started the program at Big Bend Community College where he would remain as head coach for 11 seasons until 1973. In 1980, Robert reinitiated the program at BBCC and coached there until 1986. During his years at Big Bend his teams compiled a 113-57-0 dual record and had 3 national champions and twelve national tournament place winners. He has been named to the Northwest Junior College Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

He has been an active official at all levels for 34 years. Robert has officiated at 14 state championships in 3 states, at the Pac 10, Evergreen, WAC and NAIA tournaments, NCAA and NJCAA tournaments and at the Olympic Trials. He was honored by the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association with the Officials Award in 1985 and the Contributors Award in 1995.

Robert has received many awards, including 25 year service award from the National Coaches Association, Meritorious Service Award form the WIAA, Dean Emeritus from Big Bend Community College and he received the Order of the Rising Sun from the Emperor of Japan. Robert and his wife Peg have four children, Lewis, Gary, Donald and Marie. He enjoys restoring old books and traveling.

Nominated by Darrel White and Mike Hess and inducted by Dick Deane, Hall of Fame Member. Sons Lewis and Gary will receive the award on his behalf.