Frontiersman

MAT-SU — Rufus Brandon may have entered the world in the Golden Age of sports, but this nonagenarian maintains an out-of-this-world fascination with the Space Age.

Born March 23, 1919, Brandon recently celebrated his 90th birthday at his log cabin at Montana Creek in the northern part of the Mat-Su Borough. When Brandon was a child, Babe Ruth was coming into his prime, Jack Dempsey would win reign as heavyweight boxing champion and football was bolstered by the emergence of Notre Dame’s legendary Four Horsemen. Brandon was born into a colorful America — prohibition had just come into force and The Great Depression would mark much of his teen years.

GREG JOHNSON/Frontiersman Rufus Brandon, 90, recalls buying his first car, a 1927 Ford Model T, for $5. Brandon said the key to long life is staying healthy and keeping busy.

In looking back on nine decades of life, it’s the technological advances over that time that fascinate Brandon. He knows he’s much older than the oldest man to be launched into space, but that doesn’t stop him from dreaming about walking on the moon. Brandon — who bought his first car at age 16 (a Model T Ford) for $5 and has been married to his second wife, Beatrice, for 57 years — visited the Frontiersman recently and gave some insight into living a long, full life.

Frontiersman: So, your first car was a Model T? Do you wish you still had that today?

Brandon: Oh yes. I never saw a car until I was 8 years old. That first car (I owned) was a 1927 Model T, I was 16 years old and paid $5 for it. Three years later I sold it for $45 — and thought I was rich.

F: Where are you from and what brought you to Alaska?

B: Man, I’ve been all over. I was born in Swifton, Ark., then came to Alaska the first time in 1958. I moved back here for good in 1963.

F: Did you serve in the military, and how do you think the military has changed since you were younger?

B: I wanted to serve in World War II. I had pneumonia when I was being examined and they wouldn’t take me. I went back twice more trying to get them to re-examine me, but they wouldn’t. ... There’s been a heckuva change in the military over the years, wonderful changes with technology.

F: Who was the first presidential candidate you voted for, and who do you think has been the best president in your lifetime?

B: Let’s see. President? The first one? I’d say it’d have to be (Franklin Delano) Roosevelt. He was pretty good, too. He did a lot for the kids. In my book, he’s No. 1.

F: You’ve seen a lot of changes over the past 90 years. What do you think have been the most amazing?

B: Well, it’s hard to say. It would have to be the space program. I wouldn’t mind going to the moon, but at my age, they wouldn’t let me. I was thinking I’d like to go there.

F: What’s your secret for living a long life?

B: You know, I don’t even feel old. I’ve worked hard, I’ve owned three restaurants and two different cab lines. I always had something to do. Take care of yourself, exercise and no smoking. I’ve never smoked in my life. Well, when I was 8, me and my brother tried (smoking). Man, I got sick and couldn’t see straight.

F: The adage says that everything gets better with age. Is this true?

B: It sure is. You learn a lot.

F: Compare your generation to the generation growing up today.

B: I think (children today) got a lot of ironing out to do as compared to the way I was raised. Kids are a lot smarter today book-wise than they were in my day. There are a lot of differences.

F: Technology and medicine have advanced tremendously since you were young. Do you keep up with it? What do you think have been the most significant advances in your lifetime?

B: I think they’ve done a lot with medicines, in my opinion. With pacemakers — I’ve had a couple and heart procedures — I got one in 1993, and 50 years ago I probably wouldn’t have survived that. I had a liver operation a few years ago, then I went home the next day. Amazing, simply amazing.

F: Any regrets? If you could go back and live part of your life over, would you?

B: I have no regrets, and yup, I’d go back and do it all the same. ... I ain’t that old yet.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.