OAKLAND, Calif. -- Arthur Reed, who turned 123 years last week, says his wildest wish is to find a young wife.
The Buffalo, N.Y., native who moved to Oakland in 1928 says a television appearance scheduled for the show, 'That's Incredible,' might help him find a woman between ages 18 and 35.
'I've never been on television. They're going to put me on so people can see me all over the world. It won't really be me. It will just carry my picture. But it might carry me somewhere.
'I may find a wife and have her carry me around.'
Last year, the city officials of Buffalo flew him to his hometown for Fouth of July ceremonies in honor of his status as possibly the world's oldest man. While there, he was escorted on a tour of the city and taken on a trip to the Niagara Falls.
'I'm telling you, they took care of me,' said Reed, who never learned to read or write. 'I didn't even have to walk.'
The Social Security Administration has verified Reed's age, but the Guiness Book of World Records recognizes a 118-year-old man in Japan, saying it found written documentation of Reed's age insufficient.
Reed says he was born in Buffalo on June 28, 1860, and wasn't ruffled by the Guiness rejection.
'I'll beat 'em all out,' he said.
Reed was taken south with his mother, who cooked for the Union soldiers during the Civil War. At age 9, he started a life of hard work, and has had jobs as a carpenter, bricklayer, truckdriver, and on railroads, sawmills, oil wells and founderies.
The Buffalo, N.Y., native who moved to Oakland in 1928 says a television appearance scheduled for the show, 'That's Incredible,' might help him find a woman between ages 18 and 35.
'I've never been on television. They're going to put me on so people can see me all over the world. It won't really be me. It will just carry my picture. But it might carry me somewhere.
'I may find a wife and have her carry me around.'
Last year, the city officials of Buffalo flew him to his hometown for ceremonies in honor of his status as possibly the world's oldest man. While there, he was escorted on a tour of the city and taken on a trip to Niagara Falls.
'I'm telling you, they took care of me,' said Reed, who never learned to read or write. 'I didn't even have to walk.'
The Social Security Administration has verified Reed's age, but the Guinness Book of World Records recognizes a 118-year-old man in Japan, saying it found written documentation of Reed's age insufficient.
Reed says he was born in Buffalo in 1860 and wasn't ruffled by the Guinness rejection.
'I'll beat 'em all out,' he said.
Reed was taken south with his mother, who cooked for the Union soldiers during the Civil War. At age 9, he started a life of hard work, and has had jobs as a carpenter, bricklayer, truckdriver, and on railroads, sawmills, oil wells and founderies.
