CENTENARIAN SPRUCES UP BGSU
Woman marks 100th birthday by giving back to community
6/10/2014
Trudy Price plants flowers with the help of Tracy Ricard, a licensed practical nurse, left, on the lawn of Bowling Green State University. She celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday.
THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT
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Sterling House of Bowling Green resident Trudy Price gets her birthday wish by mowing the Bowling Green University Hall lawn in celebration of turning 100. Giving her hand with the yard work on Monday is Scott Euler and Christine Burger.
Trudy Price plants flowers with the help of Tracy Ricard, a licensed practical nurse, left, on the lawn of Bowling Green State University. She celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday.
BOWLING GREEN — She waited a century to mow the lawn, and Monday, one Bowling Green resident finally had her chance.
Trudy Price celebrated the morning of her 100th birthday beautifying Bowling Green State University, planting flowers and helping to cut the grass before a crowd of about 20 people outside University Hall. The day was made possible through a partnership between Brookdale Senior Living and Wish of a Lifetime, a group that enables senior citizens to fulfill long-term goals and dreams.
Her wish to spruce up campus was not surprising. Ms. Price described herself as an “outdoor person” and said she wanted to give back to the community.
“I have been given so much in my life,” she said of her motivation.
PHOTO GALLERY: Celebrating the century mark with mowing
Ms. Price has lived a colorful life, speakers at the event said. Born June 9, 1914, in Youngstown, she eloped in 1936 with her husband Howard. Along the way the couple picked up a hitchhiker who became best man.
She moved to northwest Ohio from Youngstown about 10 years ago, said Shelly Ruehl, the executive director of Sterling House of Bowling Green, where Ms. Price now lives.
Several local dignitaries were on hand to help commemorate the occasion. State Sen. Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green) presented Ms. Price an official commendation from the state Senate. Rebecca Ferguson, chief human resources officer at BGSU, announced that June 9, 2014 would be known as “Trudy Price Day” on campus.
Once the speeches concluded, the birthday girl was led to a bright red riding lawn mower. Atop the machine she was all smiles posing for many pictures with relatives and guests.
Soon it was time to mow, and Ms. Price was escorted to a smaller, push machine. “We got a new walker for your birthday!” joked one guest as she approached.
Then, with several pulls of the cord (and three aides), the newly minted centenarian spent several minutes cutting the grass in a narrow oval.
The crowd cheered when she finished.
Ms. Price then placed flowers in a nearby planter with the help of several BGSU students. She refused an offered pair of gloves, preferring instead to get her hands dirty.
Once campus was sufficiently primped, Ms. Price and the crowd departed for a cake and music reception. Back on the lawn, the smell of cut grass hung fresh in the air.
Contact Marissa Medansky at: mmedansky@theblade.com or 419-724-6368.