X-Message-Number: 7515
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 1997 08:53:01 -0800 (PST)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: Oldest Man in the World 

    Despite Shigechiyo Izumi being included in the Guinness Book of World
 Records as the longest lived man at 120 years, most experts now regard
 his age at death as "only" 105. The runner up was Pierre Joubert of
 Quebec, Canada at 113 years. This too has now been debunked. Who is the
 true record holder for longevity for males? With impecable documentation
 this honour now lies with Thomas Mortensen of San Rafael, California
 currently aged 114 years and hoping to make that 115 soon. The runner up
 is Englishman John Evans who died at the age of 112 years. Currently the
 second oldest living male is Jean-Marie Robine at 111 years.
   However these "young guys" are little threat to Frenchwomen Jeanne
 Calment, who at 121 years is the verified record holder for extreme
 longevity.
   Note: The odds of reaching 100 years of age in most industrialized
 countries are about 1 in 20,000 or 0.005%.

 Reference:
    "The Oldest Man Ever? A Case Study of Exceptional Longevity"
    The Gerontologist 36(6): 783-788 1996


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