From a One-Room Schoolhouse to the Supersonic Skies: USAFA '59er Col. Dick Mason Inducted into the Mountaineer Hall of Fame
- Christina DeSantis
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 18 hours ago
Anything is possible when life is approached with a servant’s spirit, absolute faithfulness, determination, and deep humility. Colonel Richard Albert "Dick" Mason's journey began on gravel roads and wood-stove winters. He rose from rural Missouri eventually setting Cold War aviation records, flying 309 combat missions in Vietnam, and leading with a quiet excellence that inspired everyone around him.
On March 29, 2026, the Mount Vernon community brought this hometown hero's story full circle, inducting him into the Mountaineer Hall of Fame. Dick's military career is marked by achievements and valor; yet he is best known for his leadership and enduring devotion to nation, family, and community. Right beside him through this entire lifelong flight has been the love of his life, Joyce, whom he married during the historic June Week of his graduation in 1959. They are celebrating over 67 years of marriage together.
HALL OF FAME TRIBUTE
This honor was proudly and beautifully received at the induction ceremony on Dick's behalf by his daughter, Cara Rea.
"From the gravel roads of a one-room Missouri schoolhouse to the supersonic cockpits of the United States Air Force, Colonel Richard Albert 'Dick' Mason's journey is a testament to Missouri grit and world-class excellence. A 1953 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School, Dick's path took him through the University of Missouri before he joined the historic 'Pioneer Class' of 1959 at the United States Air Force Academy.
Dick's discipline was forged early. As a child, he walked 1.6 miles to a one-room schoolhouse—a setting with no running water and classmates in clothes made from feed sacks. He carried that humble, hardworking spirit into his military training, where he became a 'double-distinguished' graduate, finishing first in his class at both Primary and Basic Pilot Training.
In 1964, as a Captain piloting the F-100 Super Sabre, Dick etched his name into aviation history. He set a non-stop distance record for a single-engine, single-seat jet fighter, flying 6,600 nautical miles from Florida to Turkey. The eleven-hour mission required eight aerial refuelings, four of which were executed in total darkness over the Atlantic Ocean.
When the call of duty led to Vietnam, Dick served with the 615th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Phan Rang Air Base. He flew a staggering 309 combat missions, earning two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 19 Air Medals for his bravery and precision under fire.
Dick's versatility was legendary. While serving as an Air Liaison Officer with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, he attended the U.S. Army Advanced Airborne Jumpmaster School. As the lone Air Force representative in a class of 60 Army soldiers, he graduated first in his class, earning his 'Senior Parachutist' status and the respect of his Army counterparts.
Throughout his 24-year career, Colonel Mason's leadership spanned from the classroom to the command of the 347th Tactical Fighter Wing. After retiring from the Air Force, he returned to Lawrence County, continuing his service as a community leader, President of the Lawrence County Title Company, and a devoted member of the Rotary Club.
Tonight, we honor a man who traveled from the farm to military leadership, never forgetting the Mt. Vernon roots that gave him his start."
A COLD WAR LEGEND
THE HISTORIC 6,600-MILE NON-STOP FLIGHT
Colonel Mason’s record-setting supersonic flight during the Cold War showcased calm under pressure, great endurance, and skill. For 11 hours and 40 minutes, he flew his single-engine F-100 Super Sabre across 6,600 nautical miles. It was a mission defined by intense psychological pressure and several harrowing aerial refuelings executed in the pitch-black darkness over a freezing North Atlantic Ocean.
RETURNING TO HIS ROOTS
Colonel Mason’s induction into the Mountaineer Hall of Fame is more than a celebration of military excellence — it is the closing of a circle. Like George Washington returning to Mount Vernon, Dick returned to the 160‑acre farm in Mount Vernon, Missouri where his story began, carrying with him 24 years of distinguished service, sacrifice, and leadership on behalf of our nation.
In his own words, he remembers a childhood without electricity or running water, listening to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Day of Infamy” speech on a cold December day, and watching his father move the family to the Missouri Ozarks for safety and hope. From those humble beginnings came a life that reached the supersonic skies and touched every corner of the world.
And yet, after all the missions, commands, and historic achievements, he chose to come home — to rebuild the family farmhouse with Joyce, to serve his community, and to honor the land that shaped him.
His journey reminds us that greatness is rarely born from comfort. It grows from grit, gratitude, and a heart willing to serve. We have been blessed by Colonel Mason’s life, his leadership, and his unwavering devotion to both country and community.
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