George Humphrey

If you ever walk over the famed "swinging" suspension bridge that spans the St. Louis River in Jay Cooke State Park in Carlton, Minn., you can thank 91-year-young George Humphrey a resident of Ecumen's Lakeland Shores Apartments for his role in helping build that well-known landmark. George, a native of St. Joseph, Mo., first came to Minnesota in 1934 as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a public works project that put 3 million young men to work during the Great Depression. The CCC restored nearly 4,000 historical structures and developed over 800 state parks.

George first met the stunning young woman who would become his wife in 1934 at J. Cooke State Park. After concluding his work in the CCC, he returned to Missouri. For five years George and Dorothy corresponded long distance before George returned to Duluth in 1939. He and Dorothy married in 1940. He calls his late wife the "finest woman in the world." They were married for 63 years and raised one son. Today George has four grandchildren who visit him frequently.

George worked on the Mesabi Ore Docks and served as deputy sheriff for a decade before going to work for the Duluth Public Schools as an engineer. He retired from the Duluth Public Schools in 1975 at age 62. He called a beautiful Duluth bungalow home for almost 65 years. Knowing a few things about what makes a good home, George says that Lakeland Shores is a "tremendous" home.

"Everyone is so friendly here and looks out for each other. It's one of the finest places I could possibly be. I come and go as I please. I have help when I need it. It's perfect."

George enjoys entertaining in his Lakeland Shores home when he's not on the go. He enjoys hopping in his car and keeping fit by walking in downtown Duluth and at the mall. George has no plans to stop having fun. As his grandson always tells him, "just keep going." George plans to.