Tommy Mason

Rushing yards:	4,203
Rushing average:	4
Rushing touchdowns:	32
Receptions:	214
Receiving yards:	2,324
Receiving touchdowns:	13
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Tommy Mason
	Mason in the Oval Office in 1975
No. 20
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	July 8, 1939; Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
Died:	January 22, 2015 (aged 75); Newport Beach, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:	Lake Charles (LA)
College:	Tulane
NFL draft:	1961 / round: 1 / pick: 1
AFL draft:	1961 / round: 1 / pick: 3
Career history
	Minnesota Vikings (1961–1966); Los Angeles Rams (1967–1970); Washington Redskins (1971);
Career highlights and awards
	First-team All-Pro (1963); 3× Pro Bowl (1962–1964); Third-team All-American (1960); First-team All-SEC (1960);
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:
Rushing yards:	4,203
Rushing average:	4
Rushing touchdowns:	32
Receptions:	214
Receiving yards:	2,324
Receiving touchdowns:	13
	Stats at Pro Football Reference

Thomas Cyril Mason (July 8, 1939 – January 22, 2015) was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL).

College career

Mason played college football for Tulane University.

1959: 10 Games – 81 carries for 336 yards. 5 catches for 54 yards and 2 TD.^[1]
1960: 10 Games – 120 carries for 663 yards. 28 catches for 376 yards and 5 TD.

Professional career

Mason was selected first overall by the expansion Minnesota Vikings in the 1961 NFL draft. In six seasons with the Vikings, he rushed for 3,252 yards and scored 28 touchdowns. In 1967 NFL season, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams. He played with the Rams for four years but accumulated only four touchdowns and less than 900 yards. He finished his career with the Washington Redskins in 1971. He did not officially announce his retirement until June 8, 1973.^[2]

Records

Mason ranks ninth in total rushing yards and ninth in rushing touchdowns for the Minnesota Vikings.^[3]

Personal life

Mason was married to Rita Ridinger in the mid-1960s. He married gymnast Cathy Rigby in 1972. They were divorced in 1981. Mason married Louise England in 1987, they divorced in 1994. He married Karen Kay Mason in 1999. He was a 1976 graduate of the Western State College of Law.^[4] He died in hospice care at Newport Beach, California on January 22, 2015.^[5]