OUR CELEBRITIES PAGE

Here's what I remember about Bobby Joe Mason. I met him in the gym at Leonard Wood. I played high school bball so it was natural for me to join a pick-up game. It was instantly obvious the he was no average bball player. I talked to him after the game. He could not have been more pleasant. He told me his bball history and told me that he was already under professional contract but got drafted.

When we got to Germany, he was not reassigned to HQ Co. He was reassigned to Group and either played in the 7th Army League, or played for the 7th Army in a European Theater League. I am not clear about that.

When I got out of the Army, I remembered (wrongly) that he had told me he was under contract with the Boston Celtics. I kept watching the NBA to see him play, but never saw him. One day in sixty-five I picked up a newspaper and saw that the Globetrotters were going to be at the Bakersfield Civic Auditorium. There was his name. I got tickets and went to the game. At half time I decided to go to the locker room, knowing that I would be stopped by security. I was not. I spent the entire half time talking to Bobby Joe, Curly Neal, and Geese Ausbie. It was just great. Bobbie Joe did not remember me, but could not have been more gracious. That was when I learned that he had gone to Group when we got to Germany. He told me that if I contacted him ahead of time, he would get me free tickets to any Trotter game anywhere anytime for me and whoever I wanted to bring. I regret having never taken advantage of that. It was one of the highlights of my life.

Truly great guy, and a magnificent ball player.

(Norm) John N. Carr