Today, we are tipping our hats to former President George H.W. Bush. He is celebrating his 94th birthday today and making history. Bush is the first president to reach 94 years of age. Even though there is a chance that the other surviving presidents could reach this historic mark, he is still the first!
The first Bush president, George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts. Bush served in the Navy during WWII, flying 58 combat missions. He survived a vexing ordeal when his bomber was shot down over the Pacific. After several hours drifting at sea, Bush was rescued by a U.S. submarine and was later awarded three Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery in combat.
After returning home from war, Bush married his sweetheart Barbara Pierce. He attended Yale University and was known around campus as Poppy, his nickname since childhood. He was the Captain of the Yale University baseball team and played in the first two College World Series. Bush worked in the oil business for years, and after devoted his life to public service. Bush served in several diplomatic and intelligence capacities including…
- 2 Terms as a U.S. Representative from Texas
- S. ambassador to the UN (1971)
- Chairman of the Republican National Committee (1973)
- Chief envoy to the People’s Republic of China (1974)
- Director of the CIA from January 1976 – January 1977
- 2 Terms as Vice President of the U.S.
- 41st President of the U.S.
#41 has celebrated his past birthdays by skydiving near his home in Maine, but so far there haven’t been any parachutes open in the sky. According to the Bush Family’s spokesman, plans for the day include celebrating at the Bush family home in Kennebunkport, Maine.