A 102-Year-Old’s Love for Hooters and Food Tradition

At 102, Glenn Ward still has quite the appetite. As his birthday nears, there’s one special place where he wants to celebrate: Hooters.

“We’ve been going there for years,” shared the U.S. Navy veteran from Arlington, Virginia. “It’s kind of a tradition.” He believes this tradition has been going on for at least 15 years now.

Ward specifically enjoys Hooters’ spicy “3 Mile Island Wing Sauce.” His daughter, Terry, mentioned how much he loves the hot wings. It’s quite apparent that this tradition is not just about the food but about family too.

With many birthdays celebrated at Hooters, it has turned into a family gathering. For instance, around 70 people came to celebrate Ward’s 100th birthday just last year. For typical celebrations, the restaurant often reserves private rooms for larger groups.

What’s interesting is how much Ward’s current tastes contrast with his childhood diet. Growing up on a six-acre farm in Ohio, his family raised chickens, grew fruits and vegetables, and lived off a seasonal diet. “Everything was seasonal,” he recalled. He ate whatever was in season, and family meals were about freshness.

Sundays often meant homemade ice cream, whipped up with whatever fruit was available at the time, using a hand-crank freezer. It was a bit of work, but the results were worth it. As he reminisced, another childhood culinary favorite he mentioned was a dish called “breadhouse,” made after butchering a pig. The cooked meat was mixed with cornmeal and spices, then sliced and fried. “It was very, very delicious,” he fondly recalled.

Throughout his extensive naval career, Ward’s palate expanded. He served during World War II and later became a naval aviator, flying combat missions during the Korean War. “I decided to stay because the Navy food was so good,” he joked about his time in service.

Even now, food remains a central part of his life. Terry said that her father’s usual breakfast includes a protein shake with banana and milk, while dinners typically emphasize meat, vegetables, and carbs. Ward believes that his longevity is partly due to maintaining a “balanced diet” that he learned in his youth.

With a hint of humor, he mentioned, “I might be able to get to 115.” It seems there’s still a place for those hot wings in his plans too.