The Mason Spirit

At 6 pounds, 8.5 ounces, and measuring just 6.5 inches tall, the littlest member of the Mason family is the Mason bust. Generally presented to individuals who have made a lifetime commitment of more than $1 million to the university, this little guy is a rare find indeed.

The busts were initially proposed as part of the major donor recognition plan for the first comprehensive campaign. In July 1998, 30 of the busts were made, and to date 11 have been given out by the Office of University Development and Alumni Affairs. The first bust was presented to President Alan Merten on November 30, 1998; the first bust presented to a donor went to Sidney Dewberry and his wife, Reva, on December 9, 1998.

And if you’re thinking that this little one bears a striking resemblance to the George Mason sculpture that presides over the Fairfax Campus, it’s because the two are related. The bust is based on the maquette, or the scale model, of the larger sculpture that stands in front of the Johnson Center, which was commissioned in 1995 and dedicated on April 12, 1996. The bust was executed by the same sculptor, Wendy M. Ross.