Jerald Mason

My PARENTS, LJ. AND LULA MASON, MOVED to Las Vegas in early 1941.They migrated west
from a sharecropping plantation in northern Louisiana by way of McNary, Arizona.
They, like other families, they came to Las Vegas looking for a better way of life for themselves and their
Families. I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 29, 1946 at the old Las Vegas Hospital.
Our family was made up of four boys and three girls, and our parents, of course. My eldest brother and sister, James C. Mason and Mae Virginia Mason-Strong were the child-parents for us five younger children: Leonard Thomas-(Nick name, Plucome), Sylvester Thomas- (Nick name, Alley Cat), Annie Pearl-( Nick name, Fannie Head), me, and the youngest sister, Mary Elizabeth. It was my eldest brother and sister's responsibility James and Mae V to make sure the breakfast was cooked and served each morning, and that we were dressed for school or
church in the mornings. They were the ones who helped with homework from school, prepared lunches and dinner. When our mother and Dad had other responsibilities or activities, they played table games with us. Most of us kids learned how to add and subtract by playing dominoes and other card games with our dad. In the winter months on the weekends, he would take at least one of his sons along with other uncles, cousins, and friends to hunt jack rabbits in the desert surrounding Las Vegas or in southern Utah farm area.

My grandparents bought two plots of land: one on the corner of D Street and Adams Avenue, and the other across the street at 408 Adams Avenue. Our house on the corner of D Street and Adams Avenue was a converted barrack from Nellis Air Force Base. All nine of us lived in that two-bedroom.
converted barrack with great joy, peace, and unity.

Our family was very much a church centered group of people who required us to attend the neighborhood Pentecostal church. Until graduating from High School I went because it was required. I was converted just after graduating. Thank you Lord! We attended the Cox Upper Room Church of God In Christ (COGIC) located at 1117 F Street where my grandparents were officials of the church. My granddad, Fred Mason, was a deacon and trustee board member; my grandmother, Matildia E. Mason, was the first church mother. My aunts, Stella Mae Mason-Parson and Nancy Lee Mason-Pleasants, married men who became pastors in the COGIC in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada respectively. My Aunt Stella's husband, Claude Parson, was a school teacher and administrator for the Clark County School District. He founded and pastored the Vegas View COGIC. At his death in 1998, I was appointed to the pastorate of the church.

My family: foundation for a future life came from the learning experience at Westside School Elementary, Madison Elementary, Roy Martin Jr High School, Las Vegas High School, NSU (NOW UNLV) CSN, and Charles Harrison Mason Bible College. I was the only son to serve in the military I was drafted in May of 1966. My military training was at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, Texas. After serving two years (1966-1968) eighteen months in the US Army in Erlangen, Germany as a Medical Specialist I came back to Las Vegas and began my first occupation in the construction industry as one of the first of three black ironworkers in the county. After working in that occupation for twenty-five years, I went back to school to become a certified residential building inspector with Clark County. In 1997, I became the first black certified. ICBO (International Council of Building Officials) combination residential building inspector with Clark County. Update In February of 2000 I was officially appointed Pastor of Vegas View Church of God In Christ and have being doing that for the past 20 years.I retired in August 2015 from Clark County. Last year my wife passed away after almost almost 49 years of marriage.

Attended Westside and Madison Elementary; Roy Martin Jr High and of course Las Vegas High. Mostly involved in band activities. Enjoyed the trips to So. California to compete in band challenge with the Knotsberry Farm and Disneyland time.