Fred H. Hale, Sr.

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Fred H. Hale, Sr.
Fred Hale with his nurse
Born	December 1, 1890 New Sharon, Maine, United States
Died	November 19, 2004

Fred Harold Hale, Sr. (December 1, 1890 - November 19, 2004) became the oldest documented man in the United States on the death of John Ingram McMorran in February 2003, and in the world on the death of Joan Riudavets-Moll in March 2004.

In 1890, there were only forty-three stars on the American flag when he was born in New Sharon, Maine.

A retired railroad postal worker and beekeeper, Mr. Hale married Flora Mooers in 1910, the year their first child was born. Recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest licensed driver at age 108 (his pet peeve was slow drivers) he was still living by himself at age 103. At age 109, he moved to Liverpool, New York to be near his youngest son. He moved again to nearby Baldwinsville. At age 113 he played cards, and after cataract operations at ages 109 and 110, still had unusually good vision for a supercentenarian.

In 2004 he and his son moved to another Onondaga County community, Jamesville, within the town boundaries of De Witt, New York. Around then, Mr. Hale received media attention for being the world's oldest Boston Red Sox fan, with the team destined to win its first World Series in 86 years. Mr. Hale was 27 the last time the Sox won a World Series, in 1918.

Mr. Hale traveled more extensively after his 95th year than many people do in a lifetime. He visited his grandson in Japan, stopping by Hawaii on the return trip, where he tried surfing. After turning 100, he visited Europe with his oldest son (Norman Dyer Hale - died December 29, 2004) and daughter-in-law to visit the locales of his son's military service during World War II.

Mr. Hale had a large family, spread out over the entire country. He outlived his wife and three of his five children. Of five children, two were still living at the time of his death (Norman Dyer Hale - died December 29, 2004, and Fred Hale Jr.). Three children had preceded him in death (Robert - died 1918 during influenza epidemic, Muriel - died 1971?, and Carrie - died 1992). Mr. Hale had nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren.

Mr. Hale was the oldest retired railway postal worker ever, the oldest retired U.S. government employee ever, and the oldest registered beekeeper ever, among other honors and records. He often related the true story of his last successful deer hunt at age 100 in Missouri.

Mr. Hale credited his longevity to bee pollen and honey he ate each day, along with the occasional nip of whiskey.

He died of pneumonia in his room a mere 12 days short of his 114th birthday in Jamesville, New York.