Revisiting the Most Senior of Sr. Citizens
Safe to say, no one was happier than the fire marshal - that instead of a candle for every year of Walter Breuning's life, party organizers went the digits.
Also safe to say fewer were happier to see Walter make it to 113 than CBS News Correspondent Steve Hartman.
Shortly after first meeting Walter at his assisted living center in Great Falls, Mont., Hartman accompanied him as he took his scooter out for a spin. It seemed like such a lovely, bright spring day. Unfortunately, Walter can't see in the sun - and nearly crashed his scooter.
Because Walter survived that scooter incident, and because of the recent passing of 113-year old Henry Allingham of England, Walter Breuning is now officially the oldest man in the world.
America's Oldest Man
World's Oldest Man Dies
Born in 1896, Walter still remembers his grandpa talking about fighting in the war - the Civil War.
He's the only man left born during the Cleveland administration. He can say where he was when President McKinley got shot.
Walter went to school under Teddy Roosevelt, and got his job with the railroad during the Taft administration.
Under Wilson, he signed up to serve, in World War I, but never got called. And by the time World War II rolled around, he was already too old.
Walter was married for 35 years - but his bride Agnes has been dead for more than half a century. They never had any kids, and he never had a second wife.
Walter still has all his marbles. He's not on any medicine, and normally watches what he eats.
And although normally, "oldest man" isn't a title one keeps very long, Walter has no plans on giving up the title anytime soon.
"You come back in 4 or 5 years and I think I'll be here," Bruening said. He even promised Hartman the exclusive interview.
Actually, all Walter has to do is make it another 2 years, 8 months and 10 days, and he'll be the oldest man ever.
