SALEMBURG — When he walks into the Salemburg Grill for his daily breakfast, Sampson County native Turkle McLamb is greeted with a round of “hello’s”, hugs and handshakes. His seat is where it has been since the building opened. His coffee is ready and his Hobo breakfast sandwich is about to be served.

“It is what he gets everyday,” says grill owner Sharon Herring. “We have everything ready for him because he enjoys it. It is something that we like to do because he is such a wonderful man ... We feel like it is an honor for us that he comes here.”

However, this day is unlike any other. It is not every day that someone celebrates their 100th birthday and McLamb, surrounded by friends and family members, is indeed celebrating his.

In fact, it is the second of what will be three birthday celebrations altogether. Family, friends and well-wishers are invited to stop by Holland’s Chapel Church this Saturday at 5 p.m. to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to McLamb in person.

To talk about the life of Elmond Lee “Turkle” McLamb, is not something you can put into just one story, after all, this is a man whose grandfather fought in the Civil War and his great-grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. This is a man who has seen the birth of flight, television, automobiles, the talking motion picture, he has seen five generations pass by ... you name it, he has lived through it.

“I smoked, I drank a lot ... I have had a lot of good times and some bad times,” he said. “But through it all, I have loved everybody. If I have an enemy in this world, I don’t know it.”

And by the looks of the people who are stopping in and surrounding him, they love him right back.

Although you would think being 100 would slow him down, it doesn’t. For being 100, McLamb is sharp as a tack and gets around faster than some new senior citizens.

He tells stories and jokes that bring belly laughs and has a great time showing off his baby picture to unsuspecting waitresses.

“I feel good,” he said laughing. “My mind is sharp, I am healthy and I have been lucky to have great friends and family around me.”

He can remember when the first flight took place, he can remember when he got his first car (a Model A Ford with a rumble seat) and when he got his first television set.

“Back then the thing was about as big as this table,” he said with a laugh. “On one side there was this record player, in the middle there was a place for a lamp and at the end there was this little bitty television screen. Everyone would come over and try and crowd around to get a good place just to see it.”

Turkle went to New York in 1948 and went to work at the state hospital. He began to buy used cars on the side, fix them up and then resell them, a practice that he would later turn into a business.

He continued to live in New York until 1965, until retirement from the state hospital. After coming back to Sampson County, he and wife (Madge) began operating a used car dealership in Salemburg and called it McLamb’s Auto Sales. Turkle continued running the business until he was 90.

He still draws his retirement from the state hospital, some four decades later. “They must look at that (check) and say, this guy isn’t dead yet?,” McLamb says howling with laughter. “The last time I saw an envelope from there, I didn’t even open it. I had my son do it and there it was.”

Through all of it, there are only a few secrets to his longevity.

“I exercise every day,” he said, showing off his moves. “I laugh a lot and I try to be nice to everyone.”

“He doesn’t worry about the little things,” said Turkle’s grandson Clark Honeycutt. “A lot of people worry about money or what’s going to happen to them, he don’t do that. He has just been one of those that just takes it all in as it comes.”

“I have always been like that,” McLamb chimes in.

“I am very honored to be here celebrating with him today,” Honeycutt says, “I feel very fortunate to be able to have him and to be celebrating. Turning 100 is something ... not a lot of people do that.”

When asked his best piece of wisdom he could give to future generations, McLamb, without missing a beat, says, “Always treat people nice ... no matter what the case. There is a chance for everybody ... I love everybody and I have a lot of friends ... I thank the Lord that I have made it to be 100 years old.”

When McLamb is given balloons and a cake after his breakfast, a smile rolls across his face.

“Thank you so much,” he says to the group. “I really do appreciate it.”

Someone in the crowd half-jokingly says that when Turkle hits 110 he is going to Walt Disney World in Florida.

“As long as I take care on myself,” he says smiling, “I will be there.”

Here’s hoping he makes it.

To reach Doug Clark call (910) 592-8137 ext. 139 or send email to sisports@intrstar.net.