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The man who is believed to have been Morton’s first practicing attorney has been named as the 44th Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade Marshal.
Ramon “Ray” Mason said he was “utterly shattered” when he was presented a plaque and told about the honor Thursday at a meeting of the Morton Rotary Club.
“I’ve reflected a little bit on it and while I’m probably not the best one they’ve ever had, I’m probably the oldest,” he said.
The 92-year-old, who drummed as a part of the Central Illinois Banjo Club at the Pumpkin Festival for many years, was nominated by his son, Craig Mason.
“He was flabbergasted,” Craig Mason said. “He had no thought about this. He started to tear up.”
The younger Mason said his father has been “a fixture in Morton” for about 60 years.
“He worked until he was about 90 years old, serving the community as a lawyer,” Mason said. “He’s been active in the community for years. It seemed appropriate that he be parade marshal.”
Ray Mason said he came to Morton straight from law school to practice law in 1949. He opened the Mason & Krieg law firm, located on the second floor of an ice cream parlor on Main and Jefferson streets.
Mason served as the village attorney for eight years and the school board attorney for 25 years. He officially retired in 2008.
He is also co-founder of Morton’s We Care Inc., a social service organization that provides food and transportation to those in need and hosted Morton’s first foreign exchange student. He is also an active member of Community United Church of Christ.
In 2008, Mason was inducted into the Senior Illinoisians Hall of Fame, which honors the distinguished services of Illinoisians, 65 and older.
Mason is a Korean War veteran, and a veteran of World War II who was involved in the invasion of Japan.
As this year’s parade marshal, Mason will attend the festival’s opening ceremonies Sept. 15 and will ride in the parade Sept. 18.
For a full list of Pumpkin Festival events, visit www.mortonchamber.org/pumpkin-festival.
The man who is believed to have been Morton’s first practicing attorney has been named as the 44th Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade Marshal.
Ramon “Ray” Mason said he was “utterly shattered” when he was presented a plaque and told about the honor Thursday at a meeting of the Morton Rotary Club.
“I’ve reflected a little bit on it and while I’m probably not the best one they’ve ever had, I’m probably the oldest,” he said.
The 92-year-old, who drummed as a part of the Central Illinois Banjo Club at the Pumpkin Festival for many years, was nominated by his son, Craig Mason.
“He was flabbergasted,” Craig Mason said. “He had no thought about this. He started to tear up.”
The younger Mason said his father has been “a fixture in Morton” for about 60 years.
“He worked until he was about 90 years old, serving the community as a lawyer,” Mason said. “He’s been active in the community for years. It seemed appropriate that he be parade marshal.”
Ray Mason said he came to Morton straight from law school to practice law in 1949. He opened the Mason & Krieg law firm, located on the second floor of an ice cream parlor on Main and Jefferson streets.
Mason served as the village attorney for eight years and the school board attorney for 25 years. He officially retired in 2008.
He is also co-founder of Morton’s We Care Inc., a social service organization that provides food and transportation to those in need and hosted Morton’s first foreign exchange student. He is also an active member of Community United Church of Christ.
In 2008, Mason was inducted into the Senior Illinoisians Hall of Fame, which honors the distinguished services of Illinoisians, 65 and older.
Mason is a Korean War veteran, and a veteran of World War II who was involved in the invasion of Japan.
As this year’s parade marshal, Mason will attend the festival’s opening ceremonies Sept. 15 and will ride in the parade Sept. 18.
For a full list of Pumpkin Festival events, visit www.mortonchamber.org/pumpkin-festival.
