Vol. 28, No. 4 #3 (August 2005). FROM THE PRESIDENT.

• Author: By Mark W Harris

Wyoming Bar Journal

2005.

Vol. 28, No. 4 #3 (August 2005).

FROM THE PRESIDENT

WYOMING LAWYERAugust 2005/Vol. XXVIII, No. 4FROM THE PRESIDENT . . .By Mark W Harris

As Time Goes By...The Wyoming State Bar family suffered a great loss with the death of Gerald R. Mason. Gerry served as Bar President during the second year of my term as Bar Commissioner (1995 - 1996).

Like everyone else, I have a Gerald Mason story.

At the beginning of one particular Board meeting, Gerry announced he needed two volunteers for a team building exercise (my words, not his). He promptly recruited Judge Roberta Coates and Joel Vincent to "volunteer." I am, to this day, amazed at his ability to single-handedly institute the select service volunteer program in the Bar. In any event, Gerry announced that his volunteers were to engage in a boat race. He explained to all of us that the rules were very simple: The entrants were to blow two small, plastic toy boats across the length of a baking pan filled with about three to four inches of water. The first one to the other side wins. Simple.

With the drama of a ringleader at a circus, Gerry called his volunteers forward to a table on whence the "ocean" and its vessels were located. He then called the regatta watchers to gather round for a close view of the sloops and their captains. Gerry carefully explained to Roberta and Joel that the race would start when he counted to three. He coyly advised the captains to get as close to their vessels as possible so as to generate as much wind power as could be mustered. After all, they would need a full effort to win the first Mason Cup.

Tension was thick as the masters dutifully took their positions at the end of the table. Gerry raised his hand to commence the countdown: "one..., two...", his voice rising in anticipation of the start. Like kids drawn to sugar, we all leaned a bit closer. At "three!," the President of the Wyoming State Bar slammed his open signal hand directly in the middle of the pan of water, causing what can only be described as Wyoming's first and only tsunami.

The result was utter devastation. The Vincent was rolled and her captain left with a look in his eyes that can only be described as a bald Barney Google on the run. The Coates suffered a worse fate. She also rolled and took water. Her captain took so much sea water, her locks...