Would You Hire Winston Churchill? Maybe You Should.

Would you hire Winston Churchill?

Would you hire a senior citizen?

Would you encourage a senior worker to stay if he worked for you?

Maybe you should.

Winston Churchill reached 65 years old and “his career was still regarded as a bit of a failure.” It would have been easy for him to have retired then and for a company he may have worked for to encourage him to retire.

Instead he was elected Prime Minister of Britain. He led his country during World War II, made great speeches that made him famous, and “topped the polls of the greatest Britons ever.” (Source: Hiring Grandpa, The Economist, April 9 – 16 , 2011.

Here is a list of Oldies but Goodies Who Have Proven That Senior Citizens Can Still Be Very Capable and Productive So Maybe You Do Want to Hire Older Workers.

At age 59, Ray Kroc, despite battles with diabetes and arthritis, francised McDonalds. He continued to be involved with the McDonald operations until his death when he was 82 yrs. old.

At age 60, Oscar Swahn, the oldest Olympic champion, won his 1st and 2nd gold medal.

At age 61, Mahatma Ghandi weighing only 99 lbs and insisting on carrying his own luggage walked 200 miles over 3 weeks and ended with Ghandi illegally collecting a block of salt which set off civil disobedience and was considered a defining moment in the fight for Indian independence.

At age 64, Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book. She wrote the popular “Little House” series. One of them, “Little House on the Prairie” became a TV series.

At age 65, Colonel Sanders (Harlan David Sanders) started Kentucky Fried Chicken.

At age 65, Sir Winston Churchill was elected Prime Minister in England and led his country during World War II and topped the polls of the greatest Britons ever. When he was 82 yrs. old, he wrote a History of English Speaking People.

At age 66, Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan, was a war correspondent during World War II reporting on the Pacific war front.

At age 70, Peter Mark Roget created and compiled a Thesaurus after being forced to retire from the Royal Society, London’s well known and respected group of scientists. He oversaw every update until his death at 90.

At age 70, Golda Meir became Israel’s Prime Minister.

At age 70 , Jack Lalanne, the fitness guru, towed 70 people in 70 row boats for about a mile in Long Beach Harbor.

At age 70, Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence. He also helped write it. He is also the only person to have signed not only the Declaration of Independence but also the Treaty of Paris and the U.S. Constitution. He had attended school until he was 10 yrs. old. At 82 yrs. old he “effected the compromise that led to the adoption of the U.S. Constitution”.

At age 75, Nelson Mandela became President of South Africa.

At age 79, Joan Rivers, comedienne, still working currently under a 3 yr. contract worth 6-7 million with TV Guide.

At age 80, actor George Burns won an Oscar for his role in the movie “The Sunshine Boys”. He continued to work mainly writing books until shortly before he died at age 100.

At age 81, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe finished “Faust”.

At age 83, Barbara Walters, broadcast journalist, author, and TV personality, has announced she will retire next year at the age of 84.

At age 85, Bob Hope, comedian, singer, actor, etc. completed his last Xmas USO Tour overseas to entertain US Troops.

At age 85, Coco Chanel was head of a fashion design firm.

At age 88, Konrad Adeanauer was chancellor of Germany.

At age 88, Pablo Casals was giving cello concerts.

At age 88, Michaelangelo created achitectural plans for the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.

At age 89, Mary Baker Eddy was directing the Christian Science Church.

At age 89, Arthur Rubinstein gave a recital at New York Carnegie Hall.

At age 89, Albert Schweitzer headed a hospital in Africa.

At age 89, Granny D. walked 3,200 miles from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. to “raise awareness on the issue of campaign finance reform”. She walked 10 miles a day and relied on the kindness of strangers for housing and food. Her walk took 14 months.