https://longeviquest.com/2025/03/veteran-golfer-donald-johnson-celebrates-his-109th-birthday-in-iowa/

Veteran Golfer Donald Johnson Celebrates His 109th Birthday in Iowa

Donald Johnson, a Navy veteran and the oldest known living man in Iowa, USA, celebrated his 109th birthday in Riverside on 27 March, according to Audacy.

The National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic takes place every September in Riverside, Iowa. This weeklong event supports disabled veterans in embracing adaptive sports. Using a special golf cart, Donald Johnson participated in the clinic in 2023 and 2024. He plans to return in 2025, at the age of 109, continuing his passion for golf.

In 2023, at age 107, Donald Johnson made his debut at the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic, where he earned a spot on ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays of the Day after sinking a 15-foot putt. Equipped with a special cart that supports him as he swings from a semi-seated position, Johnson still uses his own clubs.

Golf has been a lifelong passion for him, sparked in the 1950s after his Navy service and during his time owning Baranchanu’s Steakhouse in Cedar Rapids from 1947 to 1969. Johnson completed his military service as a lieutenant aboard the USS Iowa after its return to Seattle from Tokyo in 1945. He and his wife, Phyllis, both worked as teachers in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, before venturing into the restaurant business in Cedar Rapids, attracted by the higher earning potential. After his restaurant was claimed for an urban renewal project in 1969, Johnson managed several businesses, including the Cedar Room at Armstrong’s and five others in the Midwest. Following his retirement in 1991, he volunteered with SCORE, mentoring small business owners. 

Happy 109th Birthday!