Shelby Harris

Shelby Harris (March 31, 1901 – July 25, 2012) was an African American supercentenarian. Harris was the third-oldest man in theworld, oldest verified man in the United States and Illinois's oldest living person at the time of his death.

Harris was a native of Ayrshire, Indiana. During his youth, he started working in the coal mines in that area until he was offered a job at the Union Malleable (now John Deere) foundry. At the age of 41, Harris joined the Army to serve in World War II, but due to a broken ankle, he did not make it out of basic training.

Harris actively served as a deacon for his church up until he was 102, and entered a Rock Island nursing home at the age of 105. He was a great-great-great-grandfather at the time of his death and his youngest grandson is 57 years old. Harris voted for John F. Kennedy in 1960 and Barack Obama in 2008. He credited his longevity to God, and his grandson said he took good care of himself and still had a good memory.

Harris died on July 25, 2012, aged 111 years and 116 days.