Studer Community Institute

What are Al Maddux's secrets to along life?

December 7, 2014
/ Staff Reports
/ community-dashboard

Pensacola native Al Maddux turns 100 on Dec. 8. He is a resident of Veranda of Pensacola retirement community. Kat Davis, community relations director for Veranda, says when people meet Maddux, they don’t believe his age: “He is sharp, witty and loves to tell a story.” He was born on West Chase Street in Pensacola to Albert Louis Maddux and Edna Amelia Waltz, the oldest of four children. His father, who is buried at St. John’s Cemetery, died when Maddux was 6 years old. After his father’s death, Maddux and his mom went to live with his grandparents for a time. Later, he, his mom and siblings moved to Gadsden Street. He graduated from Pensacola High School in 1932. Maddux began working part-time at Piggly Wiggly on weekends when he was 12 years old and then full-time after graduating from high school. He later joined Wilson Packing Company as a salesman. In 1937, he married Frances Vivian Nettles. They had two children, Ronald and Karen. Maddux worked as a ticket agent for Greyhound, which was then located at Chase and Palafox. He later worked for National Airlines for 32 years. As a boy, he loved fishing in saltwater or freshwater, enjoyed photography and took classes at Pensacola Junior College. He and his wife, Vivian, traveled the country in their RV where he shot many photographs and wrote a journal of their travels. Vivian Maddux died in 1992. Al Maddux also was a jewelry maker, using stones and rocks he collected in his travels. He would cut, grind and polish the rocks himself and mount them in rings, pendants, belt buckles, tie tacks and cuff links. Although he no longer makes jewelry, Maddux still enjoys showing his collection of more than 800 stones. His secret to his longevity? Hard work, good eating and a good life with family. “I’ve had a very good life and still do,” he says.

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What are Al Maddux's secrets to along life?

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