Abe Mast played basketball, baseball and golf at Bluffton and earned four letters in each. During his years at Bluffton, Abe was coached by his brother, Ken. He also played basketball, football and baseball at Wadsworth High School where he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
An art major, Abe spend 10 years as an assistant and head basketball coach and health and physical education teacher at four high schools in northeast Ohio. He compiled a 134-51 record by the time he left the teaching field in 1970.
After working as an insurance agent until 1972, he established Graphic Publications Inc., which published five weekly free community newspapers in the Millersburg area.
“Bluffton, as a small liberal arts institution, provided me an opportunity to expand my horizons on a variety of fronts. Certainly my participation in intercollegiate athletics played a role in helping develop skills and attitudes reflective in my coaching, teaching and business careers. Bluffton also allowed me to diversify my interests through participation in dramatics and music. These experiences, nurtured in the Bluffton environment, helped provide a sound foundation for my family life, my vocational life and my Christian life.”
Mast has been a member of Community Papers of Ohio and West Virginia, the Millersburg Chamber of Commerce and the Berlin Area Business Association. He has been the commissioner of the Holmes County Little League, chairman of the Holmes County Cancer Crusade, chairman of the Longest Day of Golf for the county American Cancer Society and a board member of the Ohio Conference Renewal Committee. Mast has also been a member of Martin’s Creek Mennonite Church where he serves as elder and teacher of the post high school Sunday School class.
