On top of serving in World War II as a Marine Corps medic, over the past 100 years Dr. Richard Rucoba was Lansing’s only write-in trustee, won more than 200 medals in the Senior Olympic Games and distributed countless pairs of eyeglasses to people in need.

So for Lansing Mayor Brian Hardy, it felt like a no brainer to celebrate Rucoba, known affectionately as “Doc,” with a birthday party at his Villa Court home.

“He’s a very humble man,” Hardy said during Thursday morning’s gathering. “He doesn’t like big parties and he’s not a bragger, but the accomplishments he’s done over the last 100 years of his life … that needed to be recognized today.”

Rucoba was all smiles as he joked and ate cake with family, friends and neighbors, it only marked the beginning of a long weekend of celebration,

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