Medicine: Adding Life to Years

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The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off . . .

—Psalms go: 10

Every afternoon last week a grey 1951 Chevrolet threaded through the streets on the edge of town, pulled up alongside the field where Stockton (junior) College's red-and-blue-jerseyed Mustangs worked out under the gentling fall sun of California's Central Valley. Out of the car stepped a trim figure in grey slacks and blue windbreaker. Under fluffy, center-parted white hair, his big, broad-browed head was thrust forward, turtle fashion. He looked old as he walked toward the cleat-chewed turf, but he shed his years like a mantle and straightened up smartly as the call rang out: "All right, kickers and punters," and the 39 players ended their scrimmage. Nine young men fell out and trotted over to the venerable newcomer. "Hi, coach," they chorused. Then one asked: "How about some kicking today, sir?"

The old man gave soft-voiced assent, and clods of dirt rained on him as the hopeful youngsters kicked. Suddenly he snapped to attention, barked at No. 84: "Head down, boy, eyes up!" Turning sideways he demonstrated the posture with fluent grace. "Relax, boys," he said easily; "don't be awkward."

What made this scene unique among thousands of similar spectacles on U.S. playing fields was the identity of the kicking coach: Amos Alonzo Stagg, who celebrated his 96th birthday on Aug. 16. It was extraordinary enough that Stagg, who was born seven years before college football (Princeton-Rutgers, 1869), had lived so long and punctuated his life with a series of brilliant firsts in several sports. But more remarkable yet was the state of his mind and body after almost a century of enormous activity.

Like a Youngster of 70. Despite a normal number of illnesses, and a back sprain that has caused discomfort off and on for more than half a century, Stagg is well enough preserved, both mentally and physically, to function as effectively as many a man 25 years his junior.

With millions in the U.S. heading for ages of fourscore years and more, Stagg's age and continuing activity pose a vital question for modern medicine: What is the secret of living healthily, happily and usefully in old age? How has Stagg done it? In fields unrelated to physical fitness, how has the same goal been achieved by other productive oldsters, such as ex-President Herbert Hoover (84), Senator Theodore Francis Green (91), and Manhattan Lawyer Charles C. Burlingham (100)?

The problems of old age have been be clouded by misconceptions since ancient times. The psalmist who hymned "The days of our years are threescore years and ten" knew nothing of modern vital statistics; the average life expectancy of an Israelite baby in David's kingdom was probably no more than 30 years. Not until the individual had weathered all the hazards of gestation, birth, childhood illnesses, diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia could he expect to reach threescore and ten.