CHARLES E. “CHUCK”
MASON JR. ’72 represents
the third generation at the
helm of Beaumont-based
Mason Construction, the family business.
Begun in 1939 by his grandfather, as one
of its first projects this fledgling company
undertook building part of the massive
seawall at Galveston. During the 1950s,
Mason’s father enhanced the infrastructure
and improved the safety of residents in
Jefferson County by building many of the
drainage systems still in use today. With the
help of wife Becky (Dickson) ’71, they are
now advancing the economic development
prospects for the entire Golden Triangle as
a leading petrochemical and industrial construction
contractor. Mason and his brother
Brad ’74 took over operation of the company
in the early ’70s with six employees
and have since expanded the company to
its current staffing level of more than
250 workers, many of whom are family
members.
“Oh yes, nepotism is alive and well
here,” said Becky, who oversees safety and
human resources for the firm. “Our son is
now on board, and we have brothers and
sisters, nieces and nephews working for the
company. It’s a true family business.”
Mason started his college career as a
biology major, dreaming of becoming the
next Jacques Cousteau. After working in the
family construction business over two summers,
however, he realized that business
problem-solving was what he really enjoyed.
With his change in career paths, Chuck
briefly added accounting to his academic
curriculum but soon decided he preferred
the vigorous science curriculum. As he says
now, the sciences served as good training
for business. “Deciphering what went
wrong in a failed chemistry experiment
and planning how to make it work the
next time is great training for running a
construction company.”
The couple met during high school
while Becky was performing as a member of
the world-renowned Melody Maids. Eloise
Milam, who was also Chuck’s aunt, formed
the group of musically
talented young women
who entertained audiences
throughout the country
and abroad between 1942
and 1972. Although Becky
taught first grade for several
years before their children
were born, she now
draws on her education
background to guide
employee safety and training.
Since she joined the
firm, it has won many state
and national safety awards
along with the Better Business Bureau
Torch Award for Business Ethics as a result
of her efforts.
Aside from the business, the Beaumont
couple has their hands in many community
projects. It was Chuck’s science background
that sparked his interest in the JASON project,
a nonprofit subsidiary of the National
Geographic Society. He was one of the
founders of the JASON Alliance of
Southeast Texas, which annually provides
scientific presentations in a field trip
environment to more than 10,000 students
in more than 20 school districts in
Southeast Texas.
“Bob Ballard, the marine archaeologist
who discovered the sunken Titanic, started
this project for kids in grades 5-8. I heard
him speak at a chamber of commerce meeting,
and I was so impressed I just knew we
had to have a JASON chapter in this area,”
he said. “Several of us approached some of
the senior leadership at Lamar and the
Beaumont school district about starting this
project, and we went to work. It’s become
one of the premier JASON programs in the
U.S., thanks in large part to Lamar’s commitment
and the great relationship they
have with the community.”
The Masons have given their time and
resources to many worthwhile organizations
and groups. They have been active in
United Way, Beaumont Community Players,
Symphony of Southeast Texas, Junior
League of Beaumont, Young Audiences of
Southeast Texas and the Beaumont
Chamber of Commerce, to name a few.
Chuck has also held leadership positions in
the Rotary Club of Beaumont, having
served as president and district governor
and continues to work on committees for
youth projects. They fondly recall traveling
to Copenhagen and Russia, as well as
humanitarian visits to Nicaragua and Haiti
as highlights of their Rotary Club service.
The Masons are also very active with
their alma mater, serving on several committees
and advisory boards. Chuck serves on
the Lamar University Foundation Board,
the Investing in the Future Campaign
Cabinet and as a member of the Reese
Construction Management Advisory
Council. Becky has served on the LU
Alumni Affairs Advisory Board, and they
both serve on the Friends of the Arts Board
for the College of Fine Arts and
Communication.
Their commitment and loyalty to
Lamar goes deeper than giving of their
valuable personal time. The Masons have
endowed the first privately funded Mirabeau
Scholarship, one of the most prestigious
scholarships Lamar offers. The gift of more
than $300,000 is part of the Investing in
the Future Campaign and will continue to
give the best and brightest students an
opportunity to get a college education. Each
scholarship recipient enjoys tuition, fees and
room and board worth $60,000 during a
four-year college career. Lamar has awarded
64 Mirabeau scholarships to exceptional
students since the program was created
in 2006.
“Both of us have always felt that Lamar
was a big part of our lives, and we felt that a
key to Lamar’s success was the scholarship
program,” Becky said. “It’s very exciting to
see the strides Lamar has made over the
past 10 years, and we’re pleased to be a part
of that.”
Obviously, time for rest and relaxation
doesn’t come too often for these movers
and shakers, but, when it’s time to get away,
their destination is the Cayman Islands
where they own a beach
home. Unfortunately, that
purchase was completed just
10 days before Hurricane
Ivan wreaked havoc on the
Caribbean island in 2004.
Since then, they’ve had a
good deal more experience
with hurricanes, remodeling
and restoration. Hurricane
Rita took the roof off the
Walden Road office, and
Hurricane Ike leveled their
beach house near Bolivar
and caused major damage to
their Beaumont residence, which is still in the
process of being repaired and remodeled.
This year, the Mason family is celebrating
70 years in the construction business in
Southeast Texas. Their daughter, Kristin,
broke with family tradition, choosing big
city life to work as the corporate communications
coordinator for the New York
Times. Their son, Chad, is now a project
manager for Mason Construction, and, if
history is any indication, he will play an
integral role as the fourth generation takes
on day-to-day operations of the business.
Whether building economic development in
the Golden Triangle, building goodwill in
Nicaragua and Haiti or building opportunities
for deserving students, the Masons have
proven themselves to be builders. From
1939 until today, and well into tomorrow,
they are building a legacy and a community.
