SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Bobby Joe Mason, a member of Bradley's 15-player Team of the Century and a 15-year veteran of the Harlem Globetrotters, died Tuesday at St. John's Hospital. Mason was 70 years old.
Following his all-star prep career at Centralia High School, Mason enjoyed a stellar career at Bradley from 1956 through 1960, ending his career fourth on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,229 points (23rd today). A two-time Helms Foundation All-American, Mason first earned the honor after helping the Braves to the first of their four National Invitation Tournament championships in 1957. A two-time, first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in 1958 and 1959, Mason was voted to the Valley's all-time first-team in a 1970-71 league-wide fan vote.
Mason was twice selected in the NBA Draft, taken in the fifth round (36th overall) by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1959 and in the sixth round (41st overall) by the Cincinnati Royals in 1960. Mason opted instead to join the Harlem Globetrotters, for whom he starred for 15 seasons from 1962 to 1976. During his tenure with the Globetrotters, Mason was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1962 College Series and he was eventually elevated to team captain. He also was part of the “Harlem Globetrotter Popcorn Machine” television series. This past winter the “Ambassadors of Goodwill” honored Mason Jan. 4 and Jan. 5 during their stops in both Peoria and Springfield, and he is listed as one of the organization's 23 “Legends” on the team's official website www.harlemglobetrotters.com.
“We have had a lot of great guards here at Bradley, but I don't think we have had a better guard than Bobby,” said former Bradley head coach Joe Stowell, who was the team's assistant coach during Mason's Bradley career. “He could handle the ball and make passes that no one else could make. And he didn't do it for show ... that was just part of his style.”
After travelling the world with the Globetrotters, Mason returned to his native Illinois and most recently spent 10 years working for the Springfield Housing Authority, coordinating after-school and summer programs for children ages 6 to 14 at the SHA Community Center until his retirement last August.
Mason's funeral arrangements are being handled by Irvin Funeral Home in his hometown of Centralia, Ill., but have not yet been announced.
