WOW! 108!
Posted on 04/02/2006 8:59:20 PM PDT by DuckFan4ever
Howard Ramsey Has Lived in 3 Centuries
PORTLAND, Ore. -- At 108 years old Howard Ramsey has forgotten more than most people experience in a lifetime.
Howard came to Portland in 1914 with his family from Colorado.
His dad drove one of the first cars ever seen in Telluride, Colorado, a WINTON SIX, the Cadillac of its day that would take Howard and His family from Colorado to Portland
Howard Ramsey: "there were no roads, no signs, no roadblocks, no nothing, just dirt road"
A different type of street car owned the road in those days. Howard Says Portland was a one horse town when he came here in 1914.
Howard Ramsey: "I think the bridges have all been built since then. I think they had one or two bridges but of course they were one-horse bridges too."
Howard graduated from Portland's Washington High School in 1916 and went off to World War One. He chaueffered lots of officers, found time to pose for photos while holding a German machine gun and smiled through his first tour of KP duty in the mess hall during the world's first big war.
Athough he recalls that war as probably one of the darkest memories of his long life.
In 1922 he went to work as an engineer for Western Electric Phone Company. He retired 43 years ago.
Through it all he's remained pretty optimistic.
Howard Ramsey: "I don't think I've ever had too many complaints or misgivings. I've taken things as they come."
Ramsey's favorite food is bacon and eggs. He says his least favorite food is Spinach. He says he doesn't like but he still eats it.
Howard gets more notoriety as he gets older like signed birthday letters from the US Army and from Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski.
Howard's granddaughters live in Portland. Shelley Fontana says it is great to have her grandfather around.
Shelley Fontana: " then when people write from all over the world and want his autograph it's like, wow! he's kind of like a celebrity almost. It's amazing to me."
Howard doesn't fret too much about the past. Doesn't fret too much about the future and takes each day as it comes.
At age 108 Howard Ramsey takes no regular medication, likes to snack on M&M's and hates broccoli in addition to spinach.
Howard is one of the last remaining 19 or so Americans who served in World War One still living. Howard is pretty coherent.
He understands a lot of things but still can't understand why people pay two dollars for a cup of Starbuck's Coffee.
One of the last of the brave Americas who endured the living hell of the trenches. Happy birthday, Mr. Ramsey, and thanks for your service to America.
That makes two of us, old timer.
He's not alone there...
Beat me by one second...
I'm not a slow typist and I am not a fast typist, I'm sort of half fast (if you say "half fast" real fast)
God Bless you Howard Ramsey.
I don't get the Starbucks coffee either.
God bless Mr. Ramsey.
He may exaggerate how small Portland was when they moved there--it had over 200,000 people in the 1910 census.
She was so down to earth. It was amazing. I suspect back then you didn't have the privilege of being anything but. Think we need more of that now.
BTTT
I didn't realize any WWI vets were still alive. I wonder if any will live to 2014....the centenial anniversary of WWI.
Yeah. It is surprising, especially when you realize a good many of the WWII vets are gone already.
I've known two vets of the Great War. One was a neighbor from when I was about 12. I regret not knowing enough to ask him more questions.
The other was an old guy at a church I went to. He was in the Italian army and didn't soeak enough english to converse with. He made it to 99.
Off topic-Just saw a quote from Manfred von Richtofen. (the Red Baron) "Those who are afraid to take the next step will have wasted their entire previous journey."
I understand that for some of these guys coming from the farms and small towns of what was still a very rural America, the war was their first experience with things like automobiles, electric lights, indoor plumbing, etc. It must have been quite a culture shock for some of them. In many ways the war was the true beginning of the 20th century for a lot of people.
It might work for Howard, but methinks not with me.
Happy birthday old soldier!
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