John Mason is not the type of person to celebrate himself.<\/p>\n
Despite being a World War II Army veteran, working in the oil industry for decades and serving on the board for DFB Pharmaceuticals and Healthpoint, Mason continues to remain humble and quiet about his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really had to ask him. You would never know that he was involved unless you asked him, and unless you knew him well, he might not tell you,\u201d said Gary Buff, a family friend of the Masons. \u201cHe just isn\u2019t that kind of person \u2014 he is never him first.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, those close to him felt his life deserves acclaim, especially upon reaching the milestone of a centennial birthday.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 2, John Mason celebrated his 100th birthday at Shady Oaks Country Club. Over two dozen friends and family came together for a surprise party to cheer for the man who continues to have an impact on those close to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a wonderful surprise. We really appreciate all of you coming. Been a long life, but it\u2019s been a wonderful one, especially the last 20 years,\u201d said John Mason after everyone wished him a happy birthday in song.<\/p>\n
Highlighting his accomplishments, Mason\u2019s family showed a partial screening of a documentary made eight years ago by his daughter, Andee Mason.<\/p>\n
![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1202-JohnMason-09--1024x683.jpg\")
John Mason speaks with friends and family at his 100th birthday celebration at the Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth on Dec. 2, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)
\n![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1202-JohnMason-12--1024x683.jpg\")
John Mason holds a birthday cake at his 100th birthday celebration at the Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth on Dec. 2, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
The longtime Fort Worth native began by remarking about his time in the Army during World War II. Mason noted he received a Bronze Star for meritorious service \u2014 \u201cdoing your job in a way that the Army approves of,\u201d he said \u2014 after four other people in his group, also named John, were killed in action.<\/p>\n
Mason also recalled his time in the oil industry, where he worked for or helmed companies including Stanolin Oil & Gas Co., Amarex Inc. and Burnett Oil Company.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But what he raved the most about in the documentary was his work in the health care industry.<\/p>\n
Mason served on the board of DFB Pharmaceuticals for decades and helped the company in its early days. He noted as one of his proudest accomplishments, the research being done by DFB-operated Phyton Biotech, which studied injecting metal nanoparticles into cancerous cells to stop a tumor\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n
![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1202-JohnMason-04--1024x683.jpg\")
John Mason watches a video that his daughter made at his 100th birthday celebration at the Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth on Dec. 2, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would you like to go to your grave saying I’ve done? \u2018I participated in curing cancer\u2019 would be a nice way to go,\u201d Mason said in the documentary.<\/p>\n
Rich in relationships\u00a0<\/p>\n
John Mason fully retired and stopped working very recently. He was 97 when he decided to hang up his boots.<\/p>\n
His son, Will Mason, attributed his father\u2019s long career to his \u201cincredibly stubborn English DNA.\u201d He noted that his father, a geologist by training, experienced both wealth and poverty in his life, which led him to value hard work.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe went from riches to rags to riches,\u201d Will Mason said. \u201cThe throughline there for him is appreciation of money and the value of human relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andee Mason attributed her father\u2019s long life to the connection between him and her mother, Annie Mason.<\/p>\n
![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1202-JohnMason-14--1024x683.jpg\")
John Mason and his daughter Andee Mason at Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth on Dec. 2, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
\u201cMy parents\u2019 love for each other, their bond, he\u2019s not going anywhere anytime soon,\u201d Andee Mason said. \u201cHe just has a will to thrive and live.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those around him continuously describe the patriarch as a kind man who doesn\u2019t hold preconceived notions of others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has an open mind about pretty much everything,\u201d Andee Mason said. \u201cI don\u2019t know if it was his time in the war or just his core character, but he takes people for who they are and doesn\u2019t ever judge them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just accepts people as they are, and that brings out the best of people,\u201d John\u2019s wife, Annie Mason, said. \u201cI love that about him.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"(Maria](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1202-JohnMason-11--1024x683.jpg\")
John Mason holds a birthday cake at his 100th birthday celebration at the Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth on Dec. 2, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
Ismael M. Belkoura is the health reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at ismael.belkoura@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n