Melvin T Mason was a man of many attributes.
- Youngest basketball player to be named All-Air Force (1961)
- First and only All-American for Monterey Peninsula College (1966)
- Joined the Black Panther Party (1968
- Received his B.A. in social science at Golden Gate University, M.A. in social work from San Jose State University and clinical social worker's license from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.
- Formed many organizations for the advancement and protection of blacks such as the (Black Workers Unity Caucus to fight job discrimination and sexual harassment, Black United Farmworkers Union Support Committee, the first anti-police brutality campaigns on the Monterey Peninsula.
- Ran for Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Board, governor of California in 1982 and ran for President of the US in 1984.