Russell Silvers’ mother gave birth to him on 8/20/22….1922, that is.
Mr. Silvers grew up in Brazil, Indiana, near Terre Haute, playing basketball, football, and running the mile for his high school. Sports continued to be a major theme for him his whole life.
When he graduated, he tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy, but in 1940, the service wasn’t ready for volunteers. “They didn’t have enough uniforms. They didn’t have enough of this, they didn’t have enough of that,” Silvers said. They told him it would be another year before they could take him. So, he got a job at a factory for the grocery store chain A&P, and later made another attempt to enlist, this time in the Coast Guard—and this time with success. Seaman Silvers and 50 others from Indiana were sent to New Orleans. Silvers’ first assignment was patrolling the coast to intercept German spies and infiltrators—not on a ship, but on horseback. The 50 from Indiana were joined by 50 from Texas. The Texas cowboys brought their own new saddles. “Those boys from Texas lived and died on horses,” Russell commented. The Coast Guard supplied the Hoosiers with worn down McClellan saddles. Speaking of McClellan, a general during the Civil War, these Hoosiers and Texans continued fighting the Civil War with each other, but in a good natured way. However, it was nearly 60 years after the Civil War ended, and they were all on the same side in opposition to the Nazis. “We got to be friends,” Russell said.
During WWII, U.S. military aircraft were being lost in North Atlantic storms. One aspect of the war was known as the North Atlantic Weather War. Ships gathered weather data and radioed it back to the U.S. to support the timing and safe routes for military aircraft and ships to cross to Europe. After the U.S. declared war, Silvers was sent to a ship in the Atlantic. “Everyone was gung ho,” Russell remembers. The cutter operated as a weather picket ship in the North Atlantic and also searched for German submarines. Silvers worked in communications, sending messages and data back to the U.S. At battle stations he moved to one of the ships’ side guns.
Russell happened to be in an English port loading a truck on June 5, 1944, the day before D-Day. He overheard Dwight D. Eisenhower speak to a group of Army servicemen, then take questions. Some men brought up things like having wives and children back in the States, and they were the only child to take care of their mothers—asking what could the general do for them. His response was that no one knows the future, but he promised them he would supply them with all the firepower he could get. “You might think you are tough and you won’t cry,” Russell said. “But that broke my heart.”
After Victory Europe (V-E) Day, Silvers pursued reassignment to the U.S. Navy in the Pacific, but the war ended before he could be transferred to the other side of the world.
After the war, Russell spent some time in Terre Haute, Indiana working for Brinks as an armed guard. There, he met a student at a nursing college that would become his wife, Mary. The couple moved to Akron, Ohio. There Mr. Silvers worked in a rubber factory and at the same time got a degree in Education from Kent State University. After completing his degree, he returned to Brinks where he worked in union affairs for 22 years. He once testified before the U.S. House of Representatives. Brinks relocated him several times including to Chicago and Boston. He and Mary had one daughter, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Since Russell was such an avid athlete, Mary learned to play golf. Throughout their lives, Russell and Mary spent much of their time playing golf together. “We had a house in Boston. Then, when I had to travel and spend a week away, we would play golf on the weekends,” Russell said. They moved to Florida so they could golf together year-round.
You are never too old to exercise and Russell has proven it. Dozens of medals from the Polk Senior Games hang in his room along with two trophies. One from 2017 and one from 2019—both are for Best of Age Group 95-99.
When asked how he lived such a long life, Russell said, “One big thing is no cigarettes. If I smoked, I feel I wouldn’t still be here. Exercise—I played all sports and kept in shape.” Russell also says he consistently attended Legacy Christian Church in Lakeland.
Russell is currently a resident at The Canopy at Walden Woods in Plant City. At The Canopy, Russell sings hymns in the morning. When he first began, it was only him and his friend Nonnie Slater. Now they have a group of 10 people every morning. On Sundays, he also prays with the other residents before breakfast.
Russell’s 102nd birthday is coming up soon. Below is the address for those who would like to send him a birthday card.
The Canopy at Walden Woods
2051 Walden Woods Drive
Plant City, FL 33565.