Happy Birthday to L.B. Porter on His 101st
By: KARK
Updated: September 11, 2012
One hundred years ago people were not flying as passengers on airplanes.
The Zipper did not exist and Life-Saver Candy was still on the drawing board.
But one hundred years ago today L.B. Porter of College Station was celebrating his 1st Birthday.
One Tuesday, surrounded by five generations, he smiled his way through number 101.
His eyes may be hazy with age, but they have seen more than most men alive today.
"At one hundred one he has a lot of stories to tell" said Grand Daughter Tarar ledbetter.
L.B. Porter was a child during W.W.I. Grew to manhood at College Station before W.W.II and joined the Army Air Corps.
He was born before passenger flight was common and lived a full life at 58 when Neal Armstrong set foot on the moon. 43 years ago.
Just the same that was then, even at 101 he looks to what will be not what was.
"It's hard to look back i've seen a lot" said Mr. Porter.
He has seen a lot and has lived to help make history.
"He still talks about that today. He never thought he would see it. A lot of people thought they would never see a black president of the United States"
L.B. was an infant when the auto mobile made it's way on the scene,
and was a young man when he jumped behind the wheel himself.
"He just learned to drive when he was 82" said Ledbetter.
Okay, so he was a younger man. As a young man, he says clean living is what carried him to 101.
"I did not do a lot of things people are doing, drinking beer, i did not do any of that"
One thing he did do, carry a healthy appetite.
"I ate everything i'm not lacking of eating "
On Tuesday his 101 year-old face beamed like a child's surrounded by family. Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. All gathered to to celebrate this Arkansans life and legacy.
