Barry Mask

Charles Barrett "Barry" Mask (born July 25, 1959 in Alexander City) is CEO of the Alabama Association of Realtors and a former state representative for Alabama House District 31 (Coosa and Elmore Counties). He was also the first to portray Aubie, Auburn University's costumed athletic mascot.

Mask is the son of Bob and Brenda Forehand and grew up in Alexander City as a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide. His family moved to Montgomery where he attended Dalradia Elementary School, Goodwyn Junior High and Robert E. Lee High School, where he was Student Relations Council president. He visited both Alabama and Auburn after high school and chose to enroll at AU where he earned a bachelor of science in public administration.

Mask beat out 30 other contenders for the privilege of donning the newly-made furry Aubie suit in the fall on 1979 and established many of the character's signature routines and his overall personality. He won the 1979 Universal Cheerleaders Association mascot competition. He was also president of his Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and of the Interfraternity Council at Auburn.

After graduating, Mask worked for several public agencies and industry organizations, leading nationally-recognized governmental affairs programs for the Alabama Association of Realtors and the Business Council of Alabama. He sidestepped into urban design when he took on the role of project manager for the Montgomery Downtown & Riverfront Master Plan in 2000.

He and his wife, Jill, have lived in the Redland community near Wetumpka since 1993. He has been active in civic affairs in Wetumpka and Elmore County. He was selected for the first class of Leadership Elmore in 2000 and helped launch the Elmore County Economic Development Authority (ECEDA) in 2001. Mask defeated Tallassee mayor Bobby Payne in a special election on February 28, 2006 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Jack Venable. He won the Republican primary three months later and was re-elected in the 2006 general election. In 2009 ECEDA engaged him as their executive director.

Mask resigned from the House of Representatives in 2013 to focus on his duties as CEO of the Alabama Association of Realtors.

References

• Benn, Alvin (November 4, 2009) "First 'Aubie' recalls Plains debut." Montgomery Advertiser
• Cason, Mike (September 3, 2013) "State Rep. Barry Mask becomes third Republican House member to resign this summer." The Birmingham News

External links

• Barry Mask campaign website
• Barry Mask bio page at legislature.state.al.us