SR199.html

Honoring the life and work of Barbara Mentzer Mason and expressing regret at her passing; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, Barbara Mason was born January 2, 1937, and spent her life making her community, her state, and her nation a better, cleaner place; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Mason always had an appreciation for the beauty around her and wanted to preserve it for her children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, in 1978, Barbara Mason became the first director of Georgia Clean and Beautiful which was later named Keep Georgia Beautiful, the umbrella group for local organizations who focus on litter prevention, waste management, recycling and other environmental education efforts; and

WHEREAS, Keep Georgia Beautiful grew from 15 affiliates in 1978 to 50 during Mrs. Mason´s ten years of administration and has now grown to 63 affiliates statewide serving 75 percent of the population of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Mason´s vision for a clean Georgia led Georgia to be named the cleanest state in the nation by Keep America Beautiful in 1984 for which Mrs. Mason was given much of the credit for organizing local efforts across the state and getting everyone from school children to business people to clean up litter; and

WHEREAS, in 1999, Mrs. Mason was honored by the Keep Georgia Beautiful Foundation who created an award bearing the name the "Barbara Mason Award" which will be given annually to the Executive Director of a local Keep Georgia Beautiful program who is resourceful, dedicated, and committed to the ideals of Keep America Beautiful; and

WHEREAS, Barbara Mason was loved and respected by the many Georgians and Americans who knew her and has left us with a legacy of environmental stewardship; and

WHEREAS, the very dynamic person we knew is no longer here with us, but her work is carried on by thousands of people daily; and

WHEREAS, her passing leaves a hole in the fabric of her family, her community, her state, and her nation which will only be filled with appropriate tributes and fond memories.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body express their condolences to the family of Barbara Mentzer Mason over her passing and honor her accomplishments and her goodness while recognizing that it is people like Barbara Mason who make Georgia the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of Barbara Mentzer Mason.