Not elder law: Country’s oldest newspaper columnist turns 104

America’s oldest newspaper columnist turned one hundred and four years old Monday. 

Ruth Huffman began writing for the Butte Valley Star in Dorris in 1955. 

Huffman offers a few tips for a long andhealthy life.  “You just keep working all your life.  Keep working, andyou haven’t got time to stop, to die.” 

Daniel Webster is the Editor andPublisher of The Pioneer Press.  “She is probably the greatest, mostprecious possession that we have at our newspaper, and I am honored tobe her editor and publisher.  And she’s wanted to quit, but I told her- 104 years old, that’s not an excuse to quit writing.” 

Huffman was the valedictorian of herhigh school class in 1920, then worked for the State of California forthirty-four years, and outlived three husbands. 

Among those who recognized Ruth’s birthday was President Bush, who sent his best wishes from the white house. 

You can catch Huffman’s column in the Pioneer Press (CA) weekly newspaper published in print only that purports to be the “official” newspaper of the non-existent state of Jefferson.