He enjoyed years of success as coach of U of A's poultry-judging team, but Dennis Mason is being remembered for more than his work with college students.

Mason passed away Oct. 18 in Springdale at the age of 75.

He earned his master's degree in education, specializing in agriculture, and was a long-time educator in Northwest Arkansas.

He taught at Springdale and Lincoln schools for 32 years, focusing on agriculture with a special interest in poultry science. He coached poultry-judging teams for years and was highly successful at the state and national level. Mason was also very involved with FFA. He was a state officer in high school and a lifetime member of the organization.

He spent the last 20 years as an instructor with U of A's Department of Poultry Science, serving primarily as coach of the poultry-judging team. Teams compete in categories of egg production and quality, in breeder selection and carcass quality.

Many of his former students, as well as U of A poultry judging team members, became high school agriculture teachers.

"He was a teacher of teachers," said Josh Gilstrap, poultry science instructor and first-year poultry-judging team coach. "He was an inspiration to the more than 2,200 FFA students he coached over the years. He was one of those teachers who would get a contest area in his sights and was unrelenting in achieving top accolades for his students. I believe he still holds the record for the most national contests ever won by any single Arkansas ag teacher."

Just last spring, assisted by Amanda Bromley, his U of A team of Andy Cornell, Bryce Bradley, Logan Sanders and Maria Torres placed second overall at the 76th USPOULTRY Ted Cameron National Contest.

"He was a coach, friend and father figure to a lot of students," said Bromley, poultry science hatchery manager. "Dennis pushed us to do our best and reach our dreams. He was the first to tell you that you messed up and the first to congratulate you a minute later."

In 2023, his team won the USPOULTRY Foundation national championship, and, in 2019, his team won the National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest national title.

In 2024, his team placed third in the nation at the USPOULTRY competition and second in the National Collegiate contest. In 2022, his teams were second in the national collegiate and third in the USPOULTRY national contests.

Mason was born in Siloam Springs on Oct. 31, 1949. He served Arkansas for many years in the National Guard and received honors.

He is survived by his wife, Lisa; children, Denise Pierce, James Walker and Crystal Pendley; a sister, Patricia Cartwright; four grandchildren, Megan Hershey-Gailey, Alyssa Ketcher, Kye Pendley and Athen Walker; three great grandchildren, Ember Gil, Luna Gailey and Madelyn Ketcher; all of his family at large; a host of friends; and his many students.

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