MILLENNIUM MOMENT

The late Newport Beach resident William Ralph Mason, who served as the

Irvine Co. president, was honored by the Orange County Press Club at its

Ninth Annual Headliners Banquet in 1972.

That’s when the club named Mason its Orange County Man of the Year in

recognition of his contributions and achievements as a community leader

and newsmaker.

Mason was honored for planning the development of the Irvine Ranch to

provide a better urban environment in Orange County.

He was also chosen by the American Academy of Achievement as one of 50

giants of accomplishment from America’s great fields of endeavor to

receive the Golden Plate award during the 11th annual Salute to

Excellence weekend in 1972 at Salt Lake City.

State Sen. Dennis Carpenter (R-Newport Beach) said of Mason, who died

of a heart attack in 1973: “I found him to have a very good balance in

serving the public interest and the company.”