Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OREM, Utah (AP) -- Dr. Russell B. Clark, who at 102 is still working, will be honored this week in Utah and Washington, D.C.
Clark retired as a physician in the early 1980s but still manages his rental properties in California, Nevada and Utah.
He will be honored at a reception in Provo on Thursday before being flown to Washington for a national awards banquet.
Ron Burris of Experience Works, a nonprofit organization that provides job training and employment services for mature workers, said the organization accepts oldest-worker nominations from around the nation each year, and Clark was selected for this year's honor.
Clark completed his undergraduate work at the University of Utah and his medical studies at Northwestern University. Beginning in the 1950s, he accumulated investment properties across the West.
To manage the properties, Clark often drives himself from Orem to St. George, after which he takes a shuttle bus to Las Vegas, where many of his properties are located.
"I don't want to wrestle with that traffic in Las Vegas," he said.
Clark credits his genes as the key to his longevity.
His older brother lived to be 103, an uncle lived to be 105 and an aunt to 106, he said.
"I feel well and I feel that I help other people," he said.
He said he had no childhood diseases and has had no surgeries since having his tonsils removed in his youth.
"I don't take any medications, and I don't have any aches and pains. I go easy on the sweets and carbohydrates, and I eat plenty of vegetables and fruits," he said.
Clark said that when he was younger he swam and golfed regularly. Today he walks for exercise.
Mature citizens have much to offer the community, whether working or volunteering, he said.
"The young people are in need of our experience," he said. "I think Experience Works is an outstanding program -- it gets people to either have a good hobby or find productive work. Research has shown that 94 percent of those who don't keep busy after they retire pass away within 18 months."
Clark said he'd tried to slow down with no success.
"It gets kind of boring," he said. "Schools are crying out for older people to come and teach these young kids. Older workers have something to offer. I enjoy life. I love people, young and old, crippled and deformed. My heart goes out to them."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
