From time to time on The Elderhood Project, we like to acknowledge some of the notable seniors in our community.

Lex Brodie is celebrating his 95th birthday today. Born in 1914 in Kekaha, Kauai, to what does he attribute his longevity?

"Well, working hard and surfing every morning is what he always says," said Lex Brodie's Scott Williams. "Pretty much every morning before he came in to work."

Surfing ties in, somewhat, with the first job Lex Brodie ever had.

"His first business in 1930, 31, 32 was with Sam Kahanamoku," said historian Bob Sigall, "giving tourists rides in outrigger canoes. Three for a dollar and he gave people like Bing Crosby and Jeanette MacDonald rides."

Lex didn't get into the tire business until 1957. That year, he told his boss at Dole Cannery that the company was using substandard cans for their pineapple. The boss kept using them and the company lost six million dollars when the pineapple went bad. But it was Lex that was fired.

"But he found out they were building a shopping center," said Sigall, "and that they would have a gas station, Windward City on the windward side and he became the station manager for that and that's how he got into the car business."

"It was his name on the wall," said Williams. "He had a level of expectations that he had and he was going to make sure that was met, no matter what. He was very fair but he made sure you took care of customers up to his standard."

For the past five years, the company has handed out "Thank You Very Much" awards to people in the community. His catch phrase came about when he started giving away decals with the caveman Little Joe on them.

"And one day a little boy came and asked for one," said Sigall, "and Lex gave it to him and the boy didn't say anything. Lex said, 'what do you say when someone gives you something?' Silence. Mother's nudging him, say 'thank you,' say 'thank you.' Silence. And Lex finally said, 'you know, he should say thank you very much.'"

And the rest, as they say, is history. Happy Birthday, Lex.