Former ‘World’s Oldest Living Man’ titleholder validated
The Gerontology Research Group announces the age validation of Mr. Park Fountain Heard. It is believed he held the title for ‘World’s Oldest Living Man‘ for a period of time before his death.
Park was born May 18 1882 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi, USA to Thomas and Jane (nee Duke) Heard (sometimes spelled as Herd/Hurd). He was married at least three times – in 1911, 1915 and 1923, although he claimed to have been married five times. He also had numerous children. Park was reportedly a farmer for all of his working life. In 1967 he moved to East St Louis, Illinois, where he would live for the rest of his life. He passed away there in a care home on August 18 1994, aged 112 years, 92 days. Park is considered the oldest known living man upon the death of Josep Armengol Jover on January 20 1994 until his own passing in August of the same year.
Park claimed in later years to have been born in 1876, as shown by media reports at the time. On examining his case carefully, it is most likely he was actually born in 1882. This is supported by the 1900 US federal census, 1918 First World War draft card and 1920 census. Two new pieces of evidence from pre-1900 have also been found and examined, which also point to 1882 as Park’s year of birth.
His claim to birth pre-1880 is also ruled out by his not appearing in the 1880 census with his known family and no document found supports such an early birth.
As can be seen throughout his life, it is clear that Park probably didn’t know the exact day and precise month of his birth. Considering all the dates given during his life, which range from early March to mid/late May, the GRG has decided to go with the latest known month/day he gave, which was that given in the media in later life – May 18.