Bob Jesse hit his 100th birthday. He originally owned his own construction company, and when it was time to retire, Bob sold the office to Geary Buchanan. Today, Bob keeps his office and remains part of the Buchanan family in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Below are excerpts from a one-on-one interview with Bob.
“And now you still have your office:”
“I still have it, I had the office here when it was my building, it was my office. And he said I want you to be in that office. I said well, okay… I said Geary why don’t you take this office… and he said… I’ll tell you when you’re gonna move out of this office, you’re not going to tell me when. He’s that kind of a guy.”
Geary’s steadfast mind isn’t all he has. His generous and caring nature extends to everyone he meets.
“How has your experience with the Buchanan Company been:”
“My experience? It’s been fantastic… I still have this office, I have a parking place, and they don’t charge me anything… I’ve told him several times I think it’s about time I leave, and he’d say again, I’ll tell you when you’re gonna leave… they are just fantastic, he and Becky are just unbelievable people… they really work hard and they deserve everything they get…”
Being 100, Bob has learned a lot about life. If advice was worth gold, we would all be rich from his words.
Advice for getting to 100
“Yes, laugh a lot. Don’t take life real seriously… when you got a family, stay with ’em, and live and enjoy ’em while they’re around… don’t take yourself too seriously… don’t think… you’re better than anybody else.
I don’t care if it’s somebody who’s sweeping the floor, you’re not better than that guy… but laugh a lot, and enjoy life, and do some things… together as a family… that is very, very enjoyable.”
After all this time, Bob says the best thing that ever happened to him is his loving and caring wife.
“How would you describe your journey to 100:”
“Fulfilling, except for a time during the second world war… it’s been a very fulfilling life… I’ve had a wonderful, wonderful wife, and three wonderful kids, now grandkids and great grandkids…
Most of all… the best thing that’s ever happened to me is my wife… She’s been a stalwart… and she’s gonna be 100 in June.”
Bob first closed his business, Indiana Construction, and sold his office to Geary and Becky 21 years ago for their business, Buchanan Hauling and Rigging, Inc. Since then, Bob has continued to drive himself to his office—which Geary insists he keeps.
- Born April 1, 1924
- Grew up in Fort Wayne and graduated Central High School
- Served in the Merchant Marine during World War II
During his service, he survived a torpedo attack 20 miles from Normandy. His ship sank, and he was pulled from the oily water. Bob spent months in a hospital in England, then was transported to New York for more rehab.
Bob graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1949. He later served on a Board of Trustees from 1976 to 1999 and served on the search committee to replace President Arther Hansen.
From there, he worked in construction, purchasing Indiana Construction, which focused on water and wastewater treatment plants. Bob supported local organizations like Junior Achievement. He also hosted a visit by President Reagan while Reagan was visiting Land Grant Universities throughout the U.S.
Bob and President Reagan discussed the Merchant Marine not receiving the GI Bill as a bill was going through Congress to change this.
Even still, it’s Bob’s 75-year marriage to his wonderful wife Donna that remains the most amazing thing to ever happen to him—and it inspires those around them.
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