Quote:

AUSTIN — The oldest man in America wakes on his couch at 4:25 a.m. and wonders if it’s still raining.

The blinds of his home are drawn shut. The trickles from an overnight storm fall onto the trees. “Turn on the lights,” he says to his caregiver, who has sat by his side all night, waiting for Richard Overton to open his eyes.

He’s helped onto a scale, which says his frail figure is a perfect 125 pounds. His blood pressure is a solid 110 over 80. His body temperature is 97.4 degrees.

In a few days, on Friday, he’ll turn 112. “And I have no pains, no aches.”

On this morning, the supercentenarian sits in his favorite recliner. He reaches for his cigar box and unwraps two Tampa Sweet Perfectos with his long fingernails — one for now, one to tuck in his shirt pocket for later.



The neighbors are still asleep. The sun has yet to rise. The birds aren’t singing. And the rain, that darn rain, is still drizzling. He hopes today won’t be like yesterday, when a constant storm prevented him from doing the thing he loves most.

If the weather is nice, Overton sits on his front porch. His friends call it his “stage.” He’ll hum with the birds, snoop on his neighbors and wave at honking cars. Best of all, it’s where he smokes most of his 12 daily cigars.

For now, the dark sky is still a mystery. So Overton reclines in his seat, passing the time with three cigars until the first glimmer of blue sky sneaks between the blinds.

“There she is,” he says with a smile, smoking one more Tampa Sweet before putting in his teeth.
Oldest U.S. veteran, too

Life has slowed year by year for the lifelong Austin resident. He was born in 1906, the same year as the first wireless radio broadcast and a year before Oklahoma became a state. He fought in World War II in a segregated Army unit and, after returning from war, spent the bulk of his career working at furniture stores, then at the Texas Department of Treasury.

Now he’s the oldest man in America, verified by the Gerontology Research Group, and the oldest veteran. Every day, strangers stop by the house on Richard Overton Avenue to take his picture or shake his hand. He’s even featured on a mural down the street from his home.




Unlike most celebrities, Overton lived an entire life of anonymity before acquiring his fame. In 2006, at age 100, Overton was just a retired man who liked garage sales, yard work and driving his Monte Carlo.

Then he got to 106. He met President Barack Obama, politicians, athletes and celebrities. Comedian Steve Harvey once asked him his secret. Overton’s reply?

“Just keep living, don’t die.”

Every morning, his caregivers make him multiple cups of coffee. Overton takes it with three spoonfuls of sugar and a plastic straw. He likes sweet things. He eats waffles, pancakes or cinnamon rolls for breakfast. He enjoys ice cream and peach cobbler for dessert. He loves Dr Pepper, which he calls “sweet juice.”

His four caregivers switch between 12-hour shifts. They do anything Overton wants. Massage his feet. Pull up the blinds. Pour him his favorite drink, a whiskey and Coke. He can be demanding, because even with his loss of independence, he’s still the man of the house.

Last year, he woke in the middle of the night to a new male caregiver he didn’t recognize. So he got his loaded .38. When the police arrived, they gently asked Overton to put the gun down. No charges were pressed, and the gun was unloaded and hidden in a safe spot.

Now, the caregivers let him know who’s coming.

Keep Reading>>>

A real American hero.

Unreal. The history that man has seen. Just unreal.

Best part:

Last year, he woke in the middle of the night to a new male caregiver he didn’t recognize. So he got his loaded .38. When the police arrived, they gently asked Overton to put the gun down. No charges were pressed, and the gun was unloaded and hidden in a safe spot.