Melvin J. Maas spent a lifetime serving others. Whether as a member of the armed forces, a congressman, or a private businessman, Maas lived by an unbending set of leadership principles.
Maas began his career in the Marine Corps during World War I. Afterward, he entered private enterprise, surviving a failed business and interference from alcohol-distilling gangsters.
Following his venture in the business world, Maas turned his attention to politics, using his position in Congress to achieve much-needed reforms in the ROTC, the US Naval Academy, and the US Marine Corps reserve forces.
War returned to Maas's life in 1945, seeing him serving in an active duty military unit in Okinawa, where he sustained injuries that cost him his sight. For many people, such disaster would end their service to their fellow citizens, but Maas remained an active servant leader, pushing for the rights and employment of the disabled.
Biographer and leadership expert John M. Haran's story of Maas's life makes for a provocative, engaging read with practical applications. Anyone who believes in serving others can benefit from Maas's embodiment of servant leadership.
About the Author: A retired military veteran with twenty-years of service in all four branches of the US military, John M. Haran earned an MA in history from California State University, Northridge, and holds various leadership development certificates.
