William Gray Mason
William Gray Mason was born more than 112 years ago on March 22nd, 1907 to his Father, William Mason and Mother, Mary (Mamie) Crutchfield White..
** Interesting events that occurred around the World during Mr. Mason's birth year of 1907 included.
• On February 26th, 1907 the United States Congress raised their own salaries to $7,500.
• On April 7th, 1907 Hershey Park opens in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
• On May 27th, 1907 bubonic plague breaks out in San Francisco, California.
• On September 7th, 1907 the British passenger liner RMS Lusitania sets sail on her maiden voyage, from Liverpool, England to New York City.
• On November 16th, 1907 Oklahoma becomes the United States 46th state.
• On December 31st, 1907 the first ever "ball drop" is held on New year's Eve in Times Square, in New York City..
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William Gray was the oldest of three children born to his Mother and Father. His Brother Joseph Madison was born in 1909 and Sister Ruth in 1912.
Patriarch Dr. William Mason supports his family as a prominent dentist in Tampa, Florida. He was on the State board of dental examiners for 15 years and was elected President of the Florida State dental society.
On June 5th 1927, William Gray, Joseph, and Ruth would lose their Father when he passes away at the age of sixty.
William would first graduate from the University of Florida and on September 20th, 1934 he leaves for New Orleans, Louisiana to attend medical School at Tulane University.
On March 18th, 1939 in the absence of his Father, William Gray gives his Sister Ruth away on her wedding day ... ( Newspaper article and photograph of Ruth in comments below )
After having graduated from Tulane University in 1941 William Gray Mason joins the United States Army in 1942 during the second World War. He would see service in Australia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan. He was assigned to General hospital's as assistant chief of medical service and chief of the department of dermatology.
On Thursday March 1st 1945 while on leave and three weeks shy of his 37th birthday William Gray marries Margaret Roach Freeman who is also in native of Tampa...
Together they would have a single Son and Daughter during the course of their marriage. Their Son was also named William Gray but went by "Gray" ... According to the 1945 Federal census their daughter Marilyn was 8 years old and born eight years before William married Margaret...
After the war's end Mr. Mason and his family would move across the bridge to Clearwater, Florida where they would live for the rest of their lives. Mr. Mason specialized in the field of radiology and had a long career. His Son William Gray Mason Jr followed in his footsteps and also became a physician.
William would lose both his Mother Mary and Sister Ruth in 1964... Williams Mother was 86 and Ruth was 57. On June 25th, 1973 younger Brother Joseph Madison would also lose his life at the age of 66.
William Gray Mason passed away on April 12th, 1976 at the age of 69 from the effects of cancer.
Major William Gray Mason... Beloved Husband, Father, and proud United States Army Veteran of the Second World War...