Sarah Knauss, the World's Oldest Person

Sarah Knauss was the second or third (documented) longest lived person ever. She was born in 1880 and passed away 30 hours before the year 2000 at over 119 years of age. Although nearly blind and deaf at the time, she was in good health and had not been ill at all before her death. At the time she was the only person alive who was born before 1885.

I sent this to her in 1998 when she was 117. Her daughter wrote me a note saying it was difficult to communicate with her, but they managed to have her sign it. Her daughter was 95 at the time, and ended up living to age 101 herself. I cannot even imagine being 95 years old, and one of my parents still being alive!

John Kenneth Galbraith Economist to Presidents

John Kenneth Galbraith was one of the most well-known economists of the 20th Century. He served in the Administrations of Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson; and also served as Ambassador to India under Kennedy. He was in charge of the Office of Price Administration (OPA) during WWII, and under his leadership the US enjoyed rapid growth and price stability throughout the war. Without this work, the economy could have spiraled downward and kept us in a Depression.

Lord Denning, British Judge

Lord Denning was a veteran of World War I, but made his mark in life as a Judge. He was seen as a Judge for the common man, and many of his decisions ran counter to the law at the time. Some of his decisions were overturned on appeal, but others were confirmed by Parliament and became new laws. At the time of his death in 1999 at age 100, it was said he was the best loved and most well-known Judge in Britain's history.

His assistant wrote me a note explaining that Denning's health was poor and he was nearly blind so the signature was not his usual one, but as he himself put it in front of him to sign, it was genuine.