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He Retired At Age 100 To Have More Time For Hobbies
When I read recently that the editor of a magazine for rabbit breeders was retiring at age 100, I thought it might be interesting to find out more about this fellow. From the photos, he looked to be closer to 65 years old than 100.
  Since one of FARM SHOW's best writers, C.F. Marley, is 85 years old, I figured he'd be the perfect guy to interview Oren Reynolds of Decatur, Ill., who told the readers of his magazine - Domestic Rabbits - that he was going to retire to have more free time.
  Reynolds was born in 1906 near Herrick, Ill., and went west with his family to homestead in Montana. He later returned to Illinois during the Depression years. He got into rabbits as an adult when his young son started pestering him to get a pet. "I've been with them ever since," he says, and points to the plaques and trophies that cover the walls of his home office. As an award-winning breeder, he's a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association Hall of Fame.
  Reynolds became editor of Domestic Rabbits 33 years ago at the age of 67, when most people are already retired. He was still actively involved in editorial chores when he announced his retirement last fall.
  Reynolds is a spry and youthful looking 100 years old. He lives alone in his own house and does his own housekeeping. He tends a garden and only recently gave up big-time rabbit breeding. However, he might get back into it part time, now that he has more time for his hobbies.
  "Rabbits can be great for relaxation," Reynolds says. "You can have the worst day in the world and then forget the whole thing after a few minutes with your rabbits."
  He outlived two wives. Bessie was at his side for 63 years and died in 1988. His second wife, Ida, died in 2001 after 12 years of marriage. Besides raising rabbits, tending garden, and serving actively in local, state and national clubs, Reynolds also sells rabbit feed from his garage and cooks himself three meals a day.


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2006 - Volume #30, Issue #2