A well-known member in our community is celebrating a big birthday soon.
C. Clyde Jones is celebrating his 98th birthday on Monday (Dec. 21), but not in his typical fashion. Jones usually has a large birthday bash to celebrate. However, with the pandemic putting a pause on large gatherings, he decided to cancel the festivity this year. He says his birthday bash is always a big day and he is blessed for all the friendships he has made while living in Manhattan for 60 years.
“I’ve probably had, I’m going to say, at least eight to ten opportunities to move to another location as a university administrator, and I’ve really not taken any of them seriously because Manhattan is the place I love and the place I want to stay,” Jones says.
Jones adds that he loves to receive phone calls and visits from his friends, and that being able to see his friends is the most important thing to him.
“My calendar is pretty open, and I always find a time and a place. Believe me, to me, staying socially active is the big key to mental health.”
Jones says staying healthy, mentally, has been even more challenging this year with the pandemic. He tells KMAN what the pandemic has meant to him and what he has learned.
“Live it one day at a time,” Jones stresses. “There is nothing I can do to control the outcomes. I can try to be safe, and what I’ve done is I’ve blended safety with keeping socially active.”
Jones adds that he has stayed socially active during the pandemic, but he has done so with caution.
“I minimize the risk of that social activity, but at the same time, no way am I going to sit down and be by myself everyday. I had one good dear friend tell me that if you did that, you might die, you might not live very long.”
Jones is almost 98 years old, so the social activity must be paying off. He adds that, at his age, he has been asked several times what the keys to a long life are and he always tells people about his three keys.
“First of all, I was married to the most wonderful woman on Earth for almost 68 years. Secondly, I’ve had access to amazingly good health procedures here in town: doctors, and hospitals and clinics. And my third one, which always shocks people, I think my concern for other people has been probably the greatest factor in keeping me happy and keeping other people around me happy.”
Since C. Clyde Jones is unable to celebrate his birthday with a birthday bash this year, we want to help recognize him. If you want to wish Mr. Jones a Happy Birthday on Monday morning, call the studio line at 785-537-1350 during our Manhattan Greater Community Foundation hour. The program airs from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on News Radio KMAN.
