There are many people in Media that have only known one mayor. For 33 years, Mayor Bob McMahon has faithfully served the Borough with dedication and vision. This January, he will pass the torch to new leadership and begin his well-earned retirement.
Over the course of his three-plus decades in office, McMahon has made tremendous strides in shaping the county seat into a popular destination for everyone -- to live, to work, and to play.
“Years ago, people would come in for jury duty then leave, so I took action to keep them here,” he says.
McMahon has built a reputation as a go-getter and a leader—someone who never hesitates to pick up the phone and get things done.
Public safety has always been at the heart of his service. In the early 1980s, as a member of Media Borough Council, McMahon chaired the Public Safety Committee, working closely with then-Mayor Frank Daly, the Police Department, and fellow council members to reduce crime and strengthen community trust.
He has been instrumental in building a vibrant business community. McMahon played a key role in bringing Fellini Cafe, Trader Joe’s, and Iron Hill to State Street, while also helping to transform the Media Theatre from a struggling movie house into the thriving musical theatre it is today.
An accomplishment near and dear to Mayor McMahon is his influence ensuring Media’s military veterans receive the recognition they deserve. In 1965, Bob had just graduated from St. Joseph’s University. His father, a World War II veteran, advised him to enlist in the Army. “He said that with my college degree in finance, I could become an officer,” he recalls.
In January 1968 McMahon left for Vietnam. On his very first night in Long Binh, his group came under attack and scrambled for bunkers. Immediately thrust into the Tet Offensive, he was uncertain of what his role would be.
“I was made a platoon leader,” he explains. “Our job was to go out on patrols, make contact with the enemy, and report back on their location.” His group was also assigned ambush duty a few times each week.
“Then, I got what I consider the best job of my life - I became a senior advisor living in three separate villages. My job was to help them get everything they needed, to train with them, to go on patrols with them, come up with ideas how they can protect themselves,” he says. “Vietnam taught me a lot. It taught me about the people that didn’t understand it, why we were there and what we did. For some reason, I was never afraid.”
After returning in 1969, McMahon says he put that chapter of his life behind him. “When I came home, I had nothing to do with veterans organizations, nothing to do with the military. I just went on with life and work,” he says. “Periodically, I would represent Borough Council as a veteran during parades, but nothing more than that.”
Until 1991, when Congressman Curt Weldon called on McMahon to help coordinate a farewell ceremony in Media for soldiers departing to Kuwait.
“In my brief remarks that day, I said, ‘When they come home, we should organize a welcome home, and it should be done by Vietnam veterans,’” he recalls. “Not realizing that I’d be organizing it.”
That year, the Hero Day Parade and Rally was billed as the biggest-ever rally in America to support U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. The event featured a symbolic Passing of the Torch ceremony, in which Vietnam veterans handed American flags and POW/MIA flags to returning Desert Storm soldiers, formally welcoming them into the veteran community.
The Mayor’s role as parade organizer was sealed -- with the support of a carefully selected group of veterans, political leaders, celebrities, and notable community members.
“For 20 years, Harry Kalas was my partner broadcasting and announcing the Veterans Day Parade. I would whisper to him who’s coming next. Everybody was thrilled to have Harry Kalas announce their name. I learned how to announce too… well, sort of,” he laughs.
McMahon recalls 1999 as a particularly momentous year. Senator Bob Dole attended the parade to receive a $2 million donation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, secured through the efforts of Governor Tom Ridge and Brigadier General John Patten.
“We consider that the reason for the PA Veterans Museum, the Veterans National Education Program, and the Veterans Legacy Project, the organization that puts on the parades,” says McMahon. “It was Governor Ridge’s vision. He said, ‘What we need is for vets to talk about our service, to teach children our history through the eyes of those who served.’ He was the inspiration for it and that’s what we still do today.”
Over the years, McMahon has recruited notable grand marshals and speakers, including Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden; Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey; Governor Ed Rendell; Dick Winters, whose heroism during D-Day is immortalized in the book and television miniseries Band of Brothers; Tuskegee Airmen; WWII veteran and celebrity Ed McMahon; newscaster Tim Russert; Army veteran and Phillies’ all-star Ritchie Ashburn; and Rocky Blier, Vietnam vet and four-time Super Bowl player with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
As he prepares to retire as mayor, he says he will always look forward to the annual Veterans Day Parade in Media—held each year on November 11 at 11:11 a.m.—as a time to join the community in honoring the courageous men and women who served for our freedom.
Whether orchestrating parades to honor our heroes, celebrating the World Champion Phillies and Eagles, or joining countless hometown events and festivals throughout the year, Bob McMahon is cherished as a true mayor of the people.
When reflecting on what has made his tenure such a success, Bob’s answer is simple, “The most important thing to do is show up. Be there with the people.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: For 19 years, Lauren Avellino Turton has happily called Media home, and she truly loves everything about Everybody’s Hometown. A professional writer for more than 25 years, she finds joy in sharing stories that support and celebrate her community. Over the past five years, she’s enjoyed creating fun, engaging content for the Media Business Authority, running the Visit Media PA and Dining Under the Stars social media pages. You might also catch her name on KYW Newsradio. At home in Upper Providence, Lauren and her husband, Andy, stay busy with their two pups and a kitty—all proud alums of the Providence Animal Center.