Airport, (MCW) with commercial service by United Airlines. It is the airport from which early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson) took off on the night of February 3, 1959, after a concert at the Surf Ballroom in nearby Clear Lake, Iowa, en route to Fargo, N.D. The plane crashed a few miles west of the airport in an historic event later referred to as the Day the Music Died. Holly, Valens, Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson all died in the accident. Notable people Barry Alvarez, former head football coach and athletic director at Wisconsin Todd Blodgett, Member of White House staff (Reagan-Bush) 1985-87. Served on Bush-Quayle '88 campaign committee. Also worked with the FBI. Bil Baird, puppeteer Charles F. Barlow, pediatric neurologist Carrie Chapman Catt, woman's suffrage Don Eddy, MLB pitcher, raised in Swaledale but born in Mason City Tanna Frederick, actress Walter Burley Griffin, architect Jodi Huisentruit, anchorwoman and missing person Jack Jenney, jazz musician Richard Kirkham, philosopher Tim Lannon (born 1951), Creighton University President Tim Laudner, Major League Baseball catcher Sandra Levinson, executive director and co-founder of the Center for Cuban Studies Joe Lillard, NFL running back Hanford MacNider (1889–1968), Ambassador to Canada, Brigadier-General in the US Army James J. Montague (1873–1941), journalist and poet Sonny Onoo, professional wrestling manager Jack Rule, Jr., professional golfer Scott Sandage (born 1964), historian and author Frank Secory, MLB left fielder and umpire Ralph Senensky, television director and writer Meredith Willson, composer and playwright, The Music Man Sister city Mason City, Iowa, and Montegrotto Terme, Italy, created a Sister City relationship in the spring of 2005. This relationship creates a bridge between the two cities that citizens can use to build new and lasting friendships and relationships. See also MacNider Art Museum Collaborative Summer Library Program References External links Mason City Iowa The original River City Portal style website including city government. Mason City Chamber of Commerce Mason City Public Library website Visit Mason City Visitor information for Mason City and surrounding area. Cities in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa Cities in Iowa County seats in Iowa 1853 establishments in Iowa