Few people in this world become centenarians. Nick Raptis is one of them. The World War II veteran celebrated his 100th birthday at the White County Senior Center in Cleveland, Georgia, on Friday. He turned 100 years old Sunday.
Raptis was born on January 21, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois. When Nick was a young boy, he and his family moved to Georgia to be with his mother’s family, and he has considered Georgia home ever since. Nick served as a communications officer in the Second World War and the Korean War. He graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in electrical engineering.
Nick has raised six children of his own and helped raise two of his sisters-in-law’s children.
Barbara Overton, director of the White County Senior Center, said Nick has been attending the center for 11 years. When asked what keeps him coming back, he said, “The people.”
Nick can be found at the Senior Center most Thursdays playing Rummikub at Table 10. He will challenge anyone who wants to play a game…but be ready…Nick knows the game (and only cheats occasionally, he says).
“It is not every month that we get to celebrate someone’s 100th birthday, but we were very glad that we could celebrate Nick this month,” says Overton.
The Senior Center also celebrated its other members who have birthdays in January.
