PORT AMHERST, W.Va. — A Kanawha County man is being honored by his peers as he celebrates his 99th birthday.
Charlie Jones, president and CEO of Charleston-based Amherst Industries, joined friends and colleagues Thursday for a birthday party in Port Amherst. His real birthday is June 4, 1918.
“The question most asked of me is ‘How does it feel to be 99?’ My answer is this — It’s the first time I’ve been 99. I’ll have to do it for a while before I even tell you,” he joked.
He admits the years have flown by.
“You get there so quickly it scares you,” Jones said.
Jones received the Distinguished West Virginian Award from Governor Jim Justice on Thursday.
He has served on numerous boards to help enhance the quality of life in the community. He still serves on the Yeager Airport Board as the construction committee chairman.
Jones thought about retiring 15 years ago, but the Kanawha County Commission encouraged him not to.
“He told me he was going to resign from the Airport Board. He thought he was too old. We talked him out of it,” said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.
There’s a reason why Jones never retired, though.
“I’ve always liked what I did. That’s why I never retired,” Jones said. “Why should you retire if you like what you do?”
It’s important for younger generations to go out and find what they like to do, Jones said.
“When you find something you like to do, stick with it,” he advised.
There’s no secret to life, Jones said, but if you live every day like it’s your last, you’ll make it out okay.
“Non of us know how long we’re going to be here, but you’ve got to live every day that you get. Do the best you can that day,” he said.
Carper said he’s known Jones his whole life and that he’s a humble and compassionate person.
“He has done so much for this community and the reason why you don’t know about it — I’ve never heard him one time talk about himself. Not once,” Carper said. “This guy never takes credit for anything, but when he talks, if you’ve got any sense at all, you’ll listen to what he has to say.”
Jones has been with Amherst since 1940. The company was started by his grandfather in 1893.
He has been a former coal miner, farmer, riverboat captain and worked to transport cargo on barges with limited emissions for more than 70 years.
In 2004, Jones received the West Virginian of the Year Award from the Charleston Gazette-Mail.