Happy Birthday to Scott Hubert - 101 Years Old

Don't you just love his hat!! This is Edwina's Dad. Mary Jane Kelly Heisterkamp sent me the link to article in the Meridian Star below. Thanks MJ.

Star of The Week: Scott Hubert

By Ida Brown / senior staff writer

In 1908, Henry Ford produced his first Model T automobile, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series (a feat they have failed to repeat ever since) and an earthquake and tsunami destroyed Messina, Sicily and Calabria, killing more than 70,000 people.

Also in that year, Meridian native Scott Hubert was born. While Hubert officially celebrated his 101st birthday on Easter Sunday, the Silverleaf Manor resident got an early start Saturday at a party in his honor.

"I think it's nice of them to do this for me," said Hubert, seated at a table surrounded by balloons and an Easter tree decorated with colorful plastic eggs and miniature footballs, basketballs and soccer balls. In front of him, a large rainbow-hued birthday cake decorated with the same sports memorabilia.

"I like sports – all of them. I watch sports on TV," he said.

In fact sports has been an integral part of Hubert's life. He played high school football in 1928 and 1929, and baseball. But it the athletic accomplishments of his brother, Albertson "Pooly" Hubert, that he boasts about the most.

"My brother was an All-American at (University of) Alabama. He played in the first Rose Bowl Alabama went to – they beat Washington, 20 to 19," said Hubert, who dons an Alabama Crimson Tide cap in allegiance to his favorite school and team.

At 101, Hubert still remembers the address of the house he grew up in: 1726 24th Ave. He is the only living sibling of two boys and one girl. He attended Meridian Public Schools, then in 1924 and 1925 transferred to St. Stanislaus High School in Bay St. Louis. Hubert returned to Meridian and attended Meridian High School in 1926 and 1927, then returned to St. Stanislaus, which is where he graduated.

In 1927, Hubert began studies in business at the University of Alabama. However, because of The Depression, he was forced to quit. He opened his own business."It was called the Field Seed Brokerage Co. – I brokered cowpeas, soybeans and other types of beans," he said.

After 18 months, Hubert closed his business and began working as a cost accountant with U.S. Engineers."I worked for them from 1941-1945 at Keesler Field, Gulport Field and the Mobile District," he said.

Hubert returned to his hometown and became self-employed as a public accountant; he continued to work in the profession until his retirement.

Sports and work were not the only highlights of his life. He was married to Edwina Cunningham for 60 years (she died in 1998). The couple had two daughters and a son (who is deceased).

Hubert was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and earned the rank of Life Master in bridge, the most highly sought level of bridge achievement. He continued to play bridge until a few years ago, he said.

Soft spoken and brief in words, Hubert said there are no secrets to his longevity."It is by the grace of God," he firmly attests.

When asked about some of the events and technological advances he has witnessed during his lifetime, Hubert noted that he has lived to see 16 presidents in office – from Woodrow Wilson to Barack Obama. He said he hasn't thought much about modern advances, but considers television "the most entertaining." And while he worked on computers in his accounting business, Hubert doesn't have much interest in them today.

"They are good to have, but I don't really have much to say about them," he said.

His advice to young people ..."I don't have any advice for them; and if I did, I don't think they would listen," he said.

And what does he consider the worst part of becoming older?

"You see all your friends die; not any of them are still living," he said slowly, with a slight tremor in his voice.

As birthday greetings were expressed to him by neighbors arriving for his party, Hubert perked up and quickly added, "But I got a lot of 'em here."