DANVILLE, Pa. — How old are you now was the question on everyone's lips at Joe Drane's birthday party. The Meadows Assisted Living Facility near Danville was packed with Joe's friends and caretakers.
"He turns 100 today, at least, we think so," said Denise Toczylousky, Activities Director at The Meadows Assisted Living Facility.
But Joe says no!
"I'm old, but I'm not that old," says Joe Drane.
Here's what happened. All of Joe's records were lost in the Agnus flood of 1972. So when Joe got a new driver's license in the 70s, he decided to make himself ten years younger. He's had everyone fooled for years!
"I don't know my age! You people change it all the time," said Joe.
Joe grew up outside of Philadelphia. He is one of ten children and started working at age six.
"I sold newspapers in front of the Ford Motor Plant for three cents apiece after the Second World War," explained Joe.
Joe had a driving business and was a longtime maître d'. He was Santa Claus in the Stroudsburg area for 20 years. He enjoys dancing and teaching the jitterbug.
"There were some of the girls on his street that didn't have cars. He would take them to church, take them out to dinner. He was always the lady's man. We always teased him because a lot of the ladies were always after him," said Denise.
As for the issue about his age, "Is this really your 90th birthday party? 90th, yeah. We'll go with that, right? Yeah, keep me young. It makes me look better," said Joe.
Whether it's 90 or 100, Happy Birthday, Joe, from everyone at Newswatch 16!