| Shelby Harris | |
 | |
| Birth: | 31 March 1901 Ayrshire, Indiana, USA |
| Death: | 25 July 2012 Illinois, USA |
| Age: | 111 years, 116 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Shelby Harris (31 March 1901 – 25 July 2012) was an American supercentenarian, who, at the time of his death, was the third-oldest man in the world, oldest verified man in the United States and the oldest living person in Illinois.[1][2][3]
Biography
Shelby Harris was born in Ayrshire, Indiana, USA, on 31 March 1901. During his youth, he started working in the coal mines in that area until he was offered a job at the Union Malleable (now John Deere) foundry. At the age of 41, Harris joined the Army to serve in World War II, but due to a broken ankle, he did not make it out of basic training.
Harris actively served as a deacon for his church up until he was 102, and entered a Rock Island nursing home at the age of 105. He was a great-great-great-grandfather at the time of his death and his youngest grandson is 57 years old. Harris voted for John F. Kennedy in 1960 and Barack Obama in 2008. He credited his longevity to God, and his grandson said he took good care of himself and still had a good memory.
Shelby Harris died in Illinois, USA, on 25 July 2012, aged 111 years, 116 days. After his death, Salustiano Sanchez became the oldest living man in the United States.
References
- ↑ "King for the day, veteran celebrates 110 years" by Rikeshia Davidson, The United States Army (30 March 2011). Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ↑ Kay Luna, "Shelby Harris, nation's oldest man, dies in RI", Quad-City Times, 25 July 2012.
- ↑ "America's oldest man dies age 111... and the old romantic cited love as the secret to his long life". Dailymail.co.uk. 2012-07-26. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2179541/Americas-oldest-man-Shelby-Harris-dies-age-111--old-romantic-cited-love-secret-long-life.html. Retrieved 2015-10-26.