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Walter Breuning

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Walter Breuning
Breuning in 2010
Born(1896-09-21)September 21, 1896
(age 128 years, 59 days)
Melrose, Minnesota,
United States
OccupationFormer railroader
TitleWorld's oldest living man since July 18, 2009

One of the 100 longest lived people ever since June 12, 2010

One of the ten verified oldest men ever since June 23, 2010
Spouse(s)Agnes C Breuning (née Twokey)
(1922-1957) (her death)
ChildrenNone
Parent(s)John Breuning
(1864(65)-1915)
Cora Mae Morehouse
(1870(71)-1917)

Walter Breuning (born September 21, 1896) is an American supercentenarian. At the age of 128 years, 59 days, he is currently the 4th oldest verified person in the world after the death of Florrie Baldwin on May 8, 2010. He has been the oldest living man in the world since July 18, 2009, and the last known surviving man who was born in 1896. On his 110th birthday, Breuning was declared the oldest living retired railroader in the United States. The governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, and the city mayor attended his celebration. Since the death of Garland Adair on December 11, 2009, he and Jiroemon Kimura are the last two verified males who are still alive today who were born before the year 1900. Breuning is the oldest undisputed American-born man ever, and is currently the 7th oldest man ever.

Family

Walter Breuning in seventh grade, second from left, top row, October 1907

Walter Breuning was born in Melrose, Minnesota. He is the son of John Breuning and Cora Morehouse Breuning, and had two brothers and two sisters.[1] In 1901, his family moved to De Smet, South Dakota where he went to school for nine years until his family broke up in 1910.

Career

In 1910, when Breuning dropped out of school, he began scraping bakery pans for $2.50 weekly.[2] He joined the Great Northern Railway in 1913, working for it for over fifty years. In an interview, he stated that he was paid $2.50 per week. During his early years, Breuning commented that he would have to hide from owner James J. Hill, as Hill didn't want any railroad employees under the age of 18 (Breuning was first hired in 1913, at age 17).[3] Breuning worked for the Great Northern Railway until age 66, and was also a manager/secretary for the local Shriner's club until age 99.[4] During World War I, he signed up for military service, but was never called up. When World War II broke out, he was too old to serve. He married his wife Agnes in 1922, and was married to her until her death in 1957. They had no children and Walter never married again stating that "Second marriages never work, even first marriages don't work today.”[5]

In Later years

Having lived at the Rainbow Retirement and Assisted Living Center in Great Falls, Montana for the last 30 years,[6] Breuning is in excellent health, even after a lifelong habit of smoking cigars, completely quitting in 1999.[7] He is able to walk, eats two meals a day, and always wears a suit and tie. He still maintains a sharp mind and accurate memory. For example, he can remember his grandfather talking about his experiences in the American Civil War when he was three years old, and remembers the day President William McKinley was shot as the day "I got my first haircut".[8] He has no prescription medications, but does take one baby aspirin every day. In November 2007, at the age of 111, Breuning was fitted with hearing aids.

The week before his 113th birthday in September 2009, Breuning had fallen and bruised his scalp, but was otherwise unhurt. [9]

On his 112th birthday, Breuning said the secret to long life is being active: "[if] you keep your mind busy and keep your body busy, you're going to be around a long time."[6]

Currently, Breuning still dresses himself in a suit and tie every day. In a recent interview, Breuning said, "Every day I excercise. Every morning I do all my exercises."[10]

Longevity records

  • On September 23, 2006, Breuning, aged 110 years 2 days, moved into Gerontology Research Group list for Guinness World Records.
  • On December 27, 2008, George Francis died, and Breuning, aged 112 years 97 days, became the oldest verified man in the United States.
  • On July 18, 2009, Henry Allingham died, and Breuning, aged 112 years 300 days, became the oldest verified man in the world.
  • On June 12, 2010, Breuning, aged 113 years 264 days, moved into the top 100 longest lived people ever.
  • On June 23, 2010, Breuning, aged 113 years 275 days, became one of the 10 verified oldest men ever.
  • On September 11, 2010, Breuning, aged 113 years 355 days, surpassed Fred Hale to become the oldest undisputed American-born male ever.

Events

Walter Breuning in March 2009 at age 112

On February 16, 2009, Breuning made an appearance on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer giving his views about the current state of the economy and the newly elected president. Breuning claimed that the first President he ever voted for was Woodrow Wilson, and that the most memorable news item he ever heard about in his life was the Stock market crash of 1929. He also described life during the Great Depression. [11]

On April 24, 2009, Breuning was the focus of a segment done by Steve Hartman's "Assignment America" on the CBS Evening News.[12] On September 21, 2009, Breuning was the focus of another such segment.[13] During his 113th birthday celebrations, Breuning said: "Remember that life's length is not measured by its hours and days, but by that which we have done therein. A useless life is short if it lasts a century. There are greater and better things in us all, if we would find them out. There will always be in this world - wrongs. No wrong is really successful. The day will come when light and truth and the just and the good shall be victorious and wrong as evil will be no more forever."

The BNSF Railway named the west end of its new Broadview Subdivision, where it meets the ex-Great Northern Laurel Subdivision near Broadview, Montana, Walter Junction after Breuning. He was present at the dedication of the new line, which serves the Signal Peak Mine, on September 2, 2009.[14]

On February 25, 2010, Breuning was honored by Montana Ambassadors for shining spotlight on the state of Montana.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Twelfth Census of the United States, United States census, 1900; Melrose, Stearns, Minnesota; roll T623 792, page 16A, line 33. Retrieved on July 25, 2009.
  2. ^ Great Falls Tribune tribute site
  3. ^ Railroad Retiree is Nation's Oldest Living Man, BNSF News, January 8, 2009
  4. ^ http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/breuning2/page17.html
  5. ^ Hartman, Steve (September 21, 2009). "Oldest Man's 113th Birthday". CBS. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Man, 112, says secret to long life is being active
  7. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_DHLvmKt7A&feature=related
  8. ^ CBS-interview
  9. ^ http://www.life.com/image/91007672
  10. ^ http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=12334015&autostart=y
  11. ^ The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, February 16, 2009
  12. ^ America's Oldest Man Keeps Rolling
  13. ^ Revisiting the Most Senior of Sr. Citizens
  14. ^ Andy Cummings, Trains (magazine), For BNSF a new coal shipper, December 2009, p. 9
  15. ^ http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100225/NEWS01/2250311=.asx
Records
Preceded by Oldest recognized living man
since July 18, 2009 		Succeeded by
incumbent

Template:Oldest Men

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