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 Friends and family raise their glasses and sing "Happy Birthday" for Russell Chrysler, right, at his 100th birthday party in the J.A. Albertson Building on Tuesday. Chrysler is a retired business and ecomics professor at the University of Idaho. Jake Barber/Argonaut
Celebrating 100 years, Russel Chrysler walked into a surprise birthday party put together by the College of Business and Economics. Chrysler is a retired business and economics professor at UI.
“I thought I was getting my picture taken in front of the building,” Chrysler said.
After learning about Chrysler and that he was turning 100, Jack Morris, dean of the College of Business and Economics, spoke with Roger Korus, the chair of the Chemical Engineering Department. Korus is a close friend of Chrysler.
Together they conceived the idea of a party, which was well attended.
“He certainly did get his picture taken,” Morris said.
The crowd within the Albertson’s Building had a few stories to share.
“I camp with him every year,” Korus said. “Thirty, 40,50, and even 70 are ages to take pride in. I was so proud to tell people I was camping with a 100 year old.”
In addition to close friends, the Chrysler family was there.
Many people at UI — including Paul Chrysler, the son of the guest of honor — spoke of Chrysler’s great love of UI and teaching. At 100, Chrysler claims to lead a fairly normal, yet busy life.
“It is unusual to be turning 100, but I don’t have any special habits I practice,” he said. “Living alone, it is hard to maintain the house. I have more respect for housekeeping. I don’t feel alone. I keep occupied with all the things that need to be done.”
Korus marveled at Chrysler’s independence, made evident by the recent renewal of his driver’s license. With so many events that occurred throughout his lifetime, Chrysler said he believed that the television was the biggest change.
“As a child, you don’t notice changes in the house,” he said. “I’m sure today the younger generation believe the computer was the biggest change. But the television was a big deal in my time.”
He said his biggest challenge was brought on during some of the most significant events in the United States.
“While I was trying to get my doctorate, I went through the Great Depression, World War Two as a soldier, got married, and had children,” Chrysler said. “It took me 14 years, because I had to be so scattered with my work. It felt so good to finally obtain it.”
Chrysler worked as an adviser and professor at UI from 1959-1974.
“Advising was very fulfilling in the fact that many men and women don’t know what they want to do with their lives,” he said. “It was quite important.”
Chrysler still continues to be involved with UI.
“He attends graduations and has gotten more involved internally in college activities in the past three years,” Morris said.
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