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George Rene Francis, 112, oldest man in U.S., dies

Combined news services

December 30, 2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - George Rene Francis, the oldest man in America, who lived through 19 presidents and saw Babe Ruth swat a homer, died Saturday in a Sacramento nursing home. He was 112. Born June 6, 1896, in New Orleans, he died of congestive heart failure in Greenhaven.

Francis, an African-American who taught his daughter how to drive after she had to give up her bus seat to a white man, marveled recently at casting his vote for President-elect Barack Obama.

His wife, Josephine, died in 1963 after 46 years of marriage. They had four children. He is survived by his children, 19 grandchildren, and 30-plus great-grandchildren.

Walter Breuning of Montana, 112 years and 98 days old, is now the country's oldest living man. Gertrude Baines of Los Angeles, 114, is the nation's oldest living person. The world's oldest person is Maria de Jesus of Portugal, 115.