When it was named Alba High School, George Hudson Place quit school at age 16 to join the U.S. Navy.
This week, he was back at school. The Grand Bay school, now named Alma Bryant High, awarded Place his high school diploma. He graduated at age 98.
Place, from south Mobile County's Bayou La Batre, had an older brother in the Navy. When Place needed a pair of shoes and had no money, he decided to also join the Navy. He had to lie about his age to get in. It worked.
Place served in World War II and was ranked as Boatswain 3rd Class. He was the operator of a Landing Craft Vehicle. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Coming back to Alabama's bayou, Place took back up the profession he had left and had learned from his father. He was a shrimp netmaker and shrimper.
Now, 82 years later, he has at last graduated high school. He "walked" with the other students and was awarded his diploma by Johnny Hatcher of the Mobile County School Board.
George Hudson Place has a place in the Class of 2024.
Watch the moving graduation ceremony and mini-documentary about Place:
Jim' Zig' Zeigler's beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama. He writes about Alabama people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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