Ralph Waldo McBurney (October 3, 1902 – July 8, 2009) was said to be the oldest worker in the United States. Until a relatively short time before his death at age 106, he lived and worked as a beekeeper in the city of Quinter, Kansas. He was born in Quinter and had lived in the Quinter area for many years.McBurney, Charles and Beth. Reformed Presbyterian Ministers 1950-1993. Pittsburgh: Crown and Covenant, 1994, pp. 105-106. He also lived near the Kansas cities of SterlingMcBurney, R. Waldo. My First 100 Years. Leewood: Leathers, 2004, page 4. and Beloit.Smith, Alvin W. Covenanter Ministers 1930-1963. Pittsburgh: Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1964, page 119. In his last years, he was recognized nationwide for his longevity.Waldo McBurney dies at 106, KSNW, 2009-07-10. Accessed 2009-07-26.
Personal life He was the third of six children born to George R. and Mary B. (Huston) McBurney. After two years at Sterling College, he transferred to the Kansas State Agricultural College (now Kansas State University), from which he graduated in 1927. Two years later, he married the former Irene Spear; together, they had three children. After her death in 1960, he married the former Vernice Forman in 1962, twelve years younger than he; Vernice died in 2016 at the age of 102.Quinter man keeping active lifestyle, The Hays Daily News, 2007-09-26. Accessed 2007-10-09. He suffered a heart attack in 1994,McBurney, R. Waldo. My First 100 Years. Leewood: Leathers, 2004, pages 54-57. but continued competing afterward. He died at the Gove County Medical Center in Quinter on July 8, 2009.Waldo McBurney, oldest U.S. worker, 106, Associated Press via The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2009-07-13. Accessed 2009-07-15.
McBurney served as an elder in the Quinter congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America,Minutes of Synod and Yearbook of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America 2005. Pittsburgh: Crown and Covenant, 2006, page 190. and his father and his son Kenneth (who survived him) both served as ministers in the same denomination. His father, too, was long-lived, being the oldest minister in the denomination at his death.
Sports He held multiple Masters athletics world records for track and field events for his age level. In 2004, he published an autobiography entitled My First 100 Years. He credited his success partially to his age; as he said in his autobiography, "It is easy to earn gold medals when one has no competition in one's age group!"McBurney, R. Waldo. My First 100 Years. Leewood: Leathers, 2004, pages 38-39. His continued competition at his age attracted the attention of gerontologists.Fackelmann, Kathleen. "The secrets to longevity", USA Today, 2004-02-22. Accessed 2007-08-20.
Recognition In October 2006, McBurney was recognized as the oldest worker in America by Experience Works.America's Oldest Worker for 2006 is 104-year-old Waldo McBurney, Experience Works, 2006. Accessed 2007-08-20. As a result, he was featured in newspapers nationwideChristoffersen, John. Retirement becoming old-fashioned to some, Evansville Courier-Press, 2007-08-15. Accessed 2007-08-20. and on the CBS television program Assignment America.'America's Oldest Worker' Has A Sweet Life, CBS, 2006-12-08. Accessed 2007-08-20. He is also a past recipient of the "Hometown Health Hero" award given by the Governor of Kansas.Williams cited as a 'Hometown Health Hero', Augusta Gazette, 2007-10-05. Accessed 2007-10-09.
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