99 And Counting

He just entered his 99th year walking this planet, with his focus on 100. Yet, for his age, he is an example of an active lifestyle to people much younger.

Vince Havorka has probably forgotten more adventures than many of us have lived; not because he is forgetful, but because of how much he has been involved with.

He was born in Randolph, Neb., in northeast Nebraska near the Missouri River. He graduated high school in 1940, then enlisting in the U.S. Navy.

“I tried to join the Navy as a baker,” he said recently.

Instead of spending time making confectionary creations, he finished his four years as an Aviation Metalsmith First Class, an experience that would follow him into the future. He spent his time stationed at North Island, San Diego, Calif. During that time he would take trips to Los Angeles. Completing his tour of duty, he returned to Randolph and opened a car dealership, selling Fords, Lincolns and Mercuries. He held that occupation for 20 years, watching the development of the automobile from 1946 to 1966. Along the way, he met men like Henry Ford III and and Lee Iaccoca. At the time, he had the largest dealership in Randolph.

One of his friends in Randolph would influence his career choices, and his zip code. A man named Merle Rudebusch was selected as the first president of Western Nebraska Technical College which later became Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney. Rudebusch spent time in Havorka's garage in Randolph, and then completed his master's degree and before being selected as the first college president.

When Rudebusch needed to fill positions at the Sidney college, he went down his list of friends, including Vince Havorka. Havorka and his family moved to Sidney so he could be the technical college's first business manager.

Arriving in Sidney, he toured the town and was quite impressed. He like the school — children were of school age then — golf course and overall layout of the community. The golf course really sold him though.

“That's one of the main reasons I came,” he said.

He stayed at the college, then at the Industrial Park northwest of Sidney, until it became part of the state college systems in the 1980s.

“Then I decided I was going to be a pre-owned car dealer,” Havorka said.

He had a dealership where Security Bank now sits. His son continues the pre-owned automobile sales business at the 12th and Illinois Street location he purchased. During his automotive days, he had the opportunity to tour the Ford Motors plant in Detroit.

Along the way, he never veered far from the skies. He learned to fly from a man with a friend in the industry Andy Rissen, friend of Walter Beech, as in Beech Aircraft Corporation, taught him to fly. Beech Aircraft Corporation was founded by Walter and Olive Ann Beech, and Ted A. Wells in 1932. He still recalls his first solo flight when Rissen jumped out of the plane as it taxied down the runway.

“I flew that Piper Cub up. It was pretty nerve-wracking,” he said.

He recalls his dad, and the bakery/cafe the family had in Randolph. Growing up, he worked in the family business and worked as a guide for pheasant hunters. He said his dad ran for office, losing the race in part because of the strength of the opposing party.

“My dad was quite a politician,” he said.

His dad came to Nebraska from “the Old Country,” Czechoslovakia.

One of his recreations is golf. He has played golf since1935. He recalls herding sheep on the golf course as a way to keep the grass short. He continues to be a recognized figure at Hillside Golf Course, hitting the links a few times each week, and tournaments. The longest exception is the year he had hernia surgery.

“I'm alright now, but it affected my golf game,” he said.

He is also known among his family for his ping-pong skills. In addition, he has been an avid runner, and a member of the Sidney Elks Lodge and the Masonic Temple in Sidney. He became a Mason while in the Navy, coaching Navy captains into the organization.

Havorka's focus on the century mark means the number of friends from his younger days is getting smaller. He looks toward the future as he considers the number of friends and associates who have gone on before him. He said he has three classmates remaining from high school.

“I had a lot of friends. I sure lost a lot of them,” he said.