Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Las Cruces man celebrates 104th birthday at favorite McDonald’s spot

LAS CRUCES – Las Cruces’ Jack Saunders Sr. turned 104 Tuesday, Aug. 9 and celebrated with friends and family at McDonald’s, his favorite hang-out spot for the past several decades.

Saunders has frequented the McDonald’s on North Main Street and Solano Drive for years now, ordering a cup of coffee and an occasional cinnamon roll. He would join a group of others who enjoy spending time together at the fast-food restaurant.

While the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in his daily outing, he and his son, Jack Saunders Jr., 75, made do.

“They take care of us; they treat us like family,” Saunders Jr. said.

McDonald’s employees brought out a birthday cake for the 104-year-old Tuesday. He was all smiles as he chowed down on the sweet treat.

Jack Saunders, middle, celebrates his 104th birthday at the McDonalds he eats at everyday on Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022.

Saunders’ son explained that his father was originally from Oshkosh, Nebraska, is part of a long line of educators.

Saunders Sr. worked in Silver City at Western New Mexico University in the education department. He later relocated to New Mexico State University as the dean of the Education Department — a position he held for 20 years. Saunders Jr said he and his daughter also went into education and his mother was also a teacher.

“We’ve been telling him all week, ‘next week you’re going to be 104,'” said the birthday boy’s caregiver. “And he goes, ‘Oh really? Already?’”

Saunders Sr. was married to his wife, Edith “Kit” Saunders, for 75 years before she passed in 2013.

Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, [email protected] or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

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