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Video Companion
109-Year-Old Veteran Shares His Secrets to a Long, Fulfilling Life
Meet Richard Overton, at one time, America's oldest World War II veteran. Though Overton passed away in 2018, his message and infectious spirit live on in this short film by Matt Cooper and Rocky Conly.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say God kept you here to help others,” Overton says in the film’s opening. The whiskey-drinking, cigar-smoking supercentenarian later reveals his secrets to longevity—which include four cups of coffee each morning, a nightly bowl of butter pecan ice cream and regular trips to church.
“I’m giving you some of my secrets to a long life,” a feisty Overton chuckles. “If you don’t use it, that’s your bad luck.”