DEWITT, N.Y., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Fred Hale Sr., believed to have been the oldest man on Earth, has died less than a month before his 114th birthday at a DeWitt, N.Y., nursing home.
Hale was raised on a farm in Maine and retired there 51 years ago after working as a railroad postal worker. He moved to the Syracuse, N.Y. area to be near his son, Fred Jr., when he was 109.
The oldest living man was a fan of the Boston Red Sox. Albert Tapper, a Boston-raised millionaire, had hoped to fly him to Fenway Park next spring to throw out the first ball in the season opener, the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard reported Sunday.
Born Dec. 1, 1890, Hale was listed by the Guinness Book of Records as being the world's oldest driver when he renewed his driver's license at the age of 104. He gave up driving four years ago and his grandson, Fred Hale III, said, "He probably should have given it up a little sooner," Sky News reported
The father of five is survived by nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. He reportedly died in his sleep while recovering from a bout with pneumonia, Sky News said.
The world's oldest living man is now Hermann Dornemann of Germany, who is 111 years old.
