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Burgess, who was born in Columbiaville, celebrated his 100th birthday on April 25. He resided in Michigan until 1973 when he retired as vice president at Citizens Commercial & Savings Bank in Flint (now Citizens Republic). He moved to Florida, where he lived for 26 years, visiting Michigan in the summers.

Eventually, Burgess moved to Tifton, Ga. to be closer to family. He has three sisters: Ruth, Wanda, and Irme, and one brother, Art.

"I loved living in Florida," Burgess said. "Now, I tire too easily to travel back to Michigan and Florida."

Burgess was married for 67 years to his wife, Violet, who passed away in 2002. They raised two boys together, one of whom they adopted (John).

He has had a caretaker, Barbara Watson, for nine years now. "She takes real good care of me," he said.

Burgess, who once worked as a purchasing agent, trades in the stock market everyday. He became interested in the market when he was just 23 years old, and he learned how to use the computer when he was 92 so he could keep up with the market.

Because he has macular degeneration, a medical condition predominantly found in elderly adults that can result in the loss of central vision, Burgess had a "talking" stock market installed on his computer.

"I don't know what I would do if I couldn't trade," he said.

"He is very passionate about the stock market," said his niece, KK Guske. "Uncle Frank and my brothers taught me everything I know about the stock market."

Also, when he could see, Burgess enjoyed playing bingo three times a week; he even introduced Guske to the game when she was just six years old.

Guske, 61, also of Georgia, remembers driving her uncle back and forth from Michigan to Florida when she was younger. She visits her uncle on a regular basis, and her twin grandsons even do computer work for him twice a week.

"He is very kindhearted," she said. "We're very close. I considered Aunt Violet be my second mother."

Burgess said a lot has changed over the last 100 years. "When I was 9 or 10, I lived in Marathon Township and only six people owned automobiles." In a conversation with his niece, Burgess added that he had no electricity as a child, and only the street lights and the hotel were powered by a generator.

Burgess also said that during the Great Depression (1929-about 1939), he was very fortunate to have a job. "Everyone suffered," he said.

Burgess said his fondest memory over the last century was receiving letters, cards, and phone calls from people thanking him for his service at Citizens Commercial & Savings Bank. "I got 46 letters, 46 cards, and four phone calls," he said. "It was very nice."

Burgess is hoping this story will reach all of his ex-customers still living in Michigan. "I want them to know how I'm doing," he said.

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