TRIO Turns 60: Honoring the Legacy of Walter O. Mason Jr.

Originally broadcast on Monday, September 9, 2024
The Late Walter O. Mason, Jr., a pioneering advocate for educational equity, was born on May 5, 1922, in Oklahoma. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Langston University and a master’s from Oklahoma State University, he pursued doctoral studies at the University of Oklahoma. He served as a special assistant to the president of the University of Oklahoma. The Tuskegee Airman had a passion for education that led him to a distinguished career in secondary education before he became a pivotal figure in the development of the TRIO programs. In 1963, while serving as the executive director for the Community Action Programs for Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County, Mason was selected to help draft the Higher Education Act of 1965. This work laid the foundation for TRIO, and Walter played a crucial role in creating TRIO Upward Bound. He contributed to writing the first regulations for the program, served on the committee that named it, and helped design its original logo. In 1968, as director of Upward Bound at Oklahoma Baptist University, Mason spearheaded the professional organization of Upward Bound Directors in Oklahoma, leading to the chartering of the Oklahoma Division of Student Assistance. His leadership expanded when, in 1971, he became the senior program officer for Region VI of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In this role, he urged TRIO personnel across Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas to unify, resulting in the founding of the Southwest Association of Student Assistance Programs (SWASAP)- the first region in the nation to become a cohesive, professional TRIO association. Mason’s unwavering dedication to TRIO was evident throughout his life. He remained a vocal advocate, generously sharing his expertise to strengthen the programs he loved. His legacy endures, having shaped the lives of countless students until his passing on August 17, 1986.