Celebrating 100 Years
White honored on centennial birthday
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The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley
Zan White, seated, celebrated turning 100 years old with his sons, standing from left, Zan Jr., Benjamin, and Robert.
ELKINS -- Longtime Elkins resident Zan White was honored with three separate celebrations in honor of his turning 100 years old on Feb. 2.
The first centennial birthday party for White, who was born in Job on Feb. 2, 1924, took place Friday morning when the ROMEO Club offered a celebration at the McDonald's restaurant in Elkins during breakfast hours. The club consists of a group of area residents who meet regularly at McDonald's throughout the week for fun and fellowship.
During the morning visit, Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon presented White with a Distinguished Citizen Award. Elbon told those present that White lived in the former Randolph County Jail on High Street for many years as a young boy.
"My dad (Benjamin) was the jailer and my mother (Hattie) cooked for the inmates," White told The Inter-Mountain.
"We moved into the jail when I was 1 year old and I lived there all the way until I was 16 years old. So I was 1 year old when I went to jail," he added with a laugh.
White is a graduate of Elkins High School and moved back to the area after retiring from C&P Telephone in 1986. While working for C&P he lived in New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Charleston.
"I started going to McDonald's in the mornings 30-some years ago," White said. "I used to go to Murphy's and we used to have coffee there and they closed. So we moved to McDonald's, I think sometime around 1988."
Later in the afternoon Friday, White was honored during the second of his three weekend celebrations, when Mountain Memories Assisted Living and Retirement Center, where he resides, offered a birthday celebration for him.
"I couldn't believe what they had for me at McDonald's Friday morning," White said. "Then they had another party at the assisted living place and there were quite a few that showed up for it in the afternoon as well."
During the Mountain Memories party, Richard Seibert presented a proclamation from Gov. Jim Justice to White on his 100th birthday.
White's weekend was capped off by a party hosted by his family at Holiday Inn Express in Elkins on Saturday. His three sons, Zan Jr., Benjamin and Robert all traveled from out-of-state to spend the weekend with their father.
A host of other family members attended the party, as did Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, who presented White with a Certificate of Achievement and the Mayor's Challenge Coin, in honor of his military service. Marco proclaimed Friday as Zan White Day in the City of Elkins.
"Zan is a pillar of our community and it's been my privilege to honor him," Marco told The Inter-Mountain. "I want to know what the secret to longevity is. He hasn't given that up yet and I'm not a coffee drinker, but evidently I may have to start drinking coffee at McDonald's in the mornings if it gets me to 100 years old."
White is a Navy veteran and served on carrier ships in the Philippines during World War II. Over the years he has been a Boy Scout leader, a Little League baseball coach, and is currently an active member of the Methodist Church, the Jaycees and the Elks Club.
White graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in electrical engineering, and has been an organizer of Elkins High School reunions and an EHS newsletter. He is an avid golfer, camper and sports enthusiast.
"I feel the same, nothing is different," White said of being 100 years old. "I had a brother who made it to 99 years and nine months and he almost made it to 100. But I also had sisters who passed away in their 50s and 60s, so you never can tell."