Happy Belated Birthday Mr. President

Tonight I watched a program on the History channel about Ronald Reagen.
As I watched it brought back to me how in awe I am of this man.
I am not very politically oriented so I can not tell you that he was the best president nor can I tell you he was the worst. Just the fact that he was the president is enough.
He was born Feb. 6, 1911 to Jack and Nell Reagen in Tampico, IL

Tampico is where most of my relatives were from and where my father was born- almost 10 years after Ronald Reagen. It is about 15 miles to the South of me. Tampico is defintely podunk America- a blink your eye and it is gone kind of town. It has not gained much by being his hometown and still remains very small.
Ronald Reagen was not born into a prosperous life. His home in Tampico was an upstairs apartment with an alchoholic father and a religious mother.
His father could not hold a job due to his drinking and the family moved from small Illinois town to small Illinois town so his father could get work.

Dixon, Il ( 15 miles to the East of me) seemed to be a better place for the Reagen's. In high school he worked at Lowell Park - a park along the Rock River- working at the concession stand and as a lifeguard saving many lives from the mighty Rock!

He left Dixon and became a radio announcer in Des Moines, IA and then onto Hollywood! His dashing good looks and his talent soon made him a famous actor.
He also hosted a tv program for General Electric for many years.
In 1966 he beacame Governor of California and was Governor until 1975.

Of course the rest is History as he served two terms as President of the United States.
It is sad that this man was afflicated by Alzhiemer's diesease but the accomplishements he nade in his lifetime are nothing short of amazing.
To think that he was born in such a small town in a one room apartment over a tavern to parents who had huge financial struggles is a tribute to his greatness.
And so I wish a Happy 100th birthday Mr. President- may you always rest in peace.