William J. "Rocky" Mason
Past President of the ALHS Alumni Association and Professor Emeritus at San Francisco State University
Spring 1944 Graduate
Bill, or “Rocky” as Lincoln Mustangs call him, graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in June 1944 and was a member of the first graduation class that went four years at the school. While at Lincoln, Bill was a member of the baseball and the 130s basketball teams and was the leading hitter on the baseball team. His greatest achievement related to Lincoln was meeting another student Janice Marie Pibernig and marrying her five years later. Janice and Bill have been married for 58 years and have three children: John Franklin, Thomas William, and Janine Marie.
His accomplishments since graduating from Lincoln are many and varied. He is an author, researcher, genealogist, publisher, U.S. Navy veteran, high school teacher, university professor and administrator, president of several organizations, and community leader.
After graduation, Bill and twelve other Lincoln classmates went into the U.S. Navy together and completed boot camp at Farragut, Idaho. He became a yeoman and gunner aboard the USS LCS (L) (3) 86 and served during World War II in the Okinawa Campaign, Philippine Liberation, and the Occupation of Japan. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean Conflict and served aboard the USS BOXER (CVA-21) as personnel officer. He was awarded a Commendation Medal for bravery during the Korean Conflict.
In between these two wars, Bill attended and graduated from the University of California Berkeley and earned a baccalaureate degree in business administration. After the Korean War, he attended and graduated from San Francisco State University where he earned a General Secondary Teaching Credential and a Master’s degree. He taught two years in high school and then attended the State University of Iowa where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree. He is presently a Professor Emeritus of Economics at San Francisco State University, where he is honored by being selected for the University’s Wall of Fame.
His hobbies include woodworking and genealogy. His interest in woodworking began as a student of David “Doc” Mosby at Lincoln. Genealogy consumed him for 23 years while he researched and published a book of 552 pages of genealogical findings of his and his wife’s families.
He held several administrative positions in the California State University System: Director of Institutional Research, Director of Center on Economic Education, and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at San Francisco State University; Associate Dean of Academic Planning and Resources as well as Director of Analytical Studies in the Chancellor’s Office of the California State University; and Vice President of Academic Affairs at California State University Stanislaus.
His major research included an econometric study entitled, “The Economic Impact of the California State University on the Economy of California” and a series of survey research on the “Attitudes, Expectations, and Buying Plans of San Franciscans.
His public service includes being president of the San Francisco State University Alumni Association, San Francisco State Retirement Association, Abraham Lincoln High School Alumni Association, skipper of the National Association of USS LCS (L) 1-130, and Chair of the USS LCS (L) (3) 102 Retrieval Committee.
His latest achievement is being primarily responsible for the acquisition of the former USS LCS (L) (3) 102 from the Royal Thai Navy for the National Association of USS LCS (L) 1-130 for the purpose of making the ship a museum and memorial to those officers and enlisted men who served so gallantly and bravely aboard one of these ships.
In recognition of his accomplishments, Bill “Rocky” Mason was inducted into the Abraham Lincoln High School Wall of Fame in May 2008.