Birthdays come and go each year, some more important than others.

At 16, you are one step closer to driving a car. At 21, time can now be spent at the bar. Turning 25 means you can rent a car, and 40 is just how old you are. By 50 you are over the hill, and at 75 retirement is a thrill.

Lynn W. McMillan, who goes by Mac, has surpassed all those milestones, and is now working on several others, including perfecting his Wii bowling skills and the Spanish language, and growing the perfect tomato plant. On Thursday, he begins another century of life, turning what most people hope for, 100 years old.

“The years have gone by so fast,” McMillan said Monday from his son's home in Windsor.

“Now, I'm starting on my next hundred,” he laughed.

McMillan is formally from Windsor, and now lives at Rigden Farm, a senior living facility in Fort Collins. His son, Charlie, 65, and daughter-in-law, Karen, live in Windsor, as does his granddaughter, Debbie Mosier, and her husband, Jon, with their two sons, Sean, 9, and Jake, 6. The rest of the family, McMillan's grandson, David, and his wife, Teresa, and two boys Brandon, 9, and Tyler, 6, live in Boise, Idaho.

McMillan said he feels very good, looks great and remembers everything he's done in the 100 years of life.

“I never thought about reaching 100,” he said.

McMillan's secret to living 100 years is simple.

“I'm not an alcoholic, and not a smoker,” he said. “That's what I think has helped out.”

McMillan was born on June 11, 1909, in Paducah, Texas. He was raised and attended school in central Texas in the town, West, just north of Waco. He grew up with five sisters and three brothers.

“My mom lived until 95, so I guess I took some from her,” McMillan said.

He received his degree in math and psychology from the University of Texas, and worked as a bookkeeper and accountant.

McMillan met the love of his life, Elizabeth, in Wharton, Texas. They married on Oct. 12, 1941. The couple had their one son, Charlie.

Before being drafted into the Army in 1942, McMillan was working with the United State Employment Service in Houston.

He then served 20 years in the military, including World War II. During the war, he was the commanding officer in Virginia and port master in New York, before being shipped across the Pacific Ocean to the Philippines and then over to Japan for occupational duty.

He retired as an Army Major in 1969. After leaving the service, he transferred to the Veterans Administration where he worked he spent 30 years of civil service.

“I've been retired for a long time,” he said with a smile.

McMillan is planning on taking the Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C., in September to see the war memorials.

The McMillans lived in Dallas for 33 years, until they moved to Denver to be closer to family. Elizabeth passed away in April 2002 at the age of 88. The couple had been married for 60 years.

Over the years, McMillan has seen the country change, technology grow and visited every state.

“I've seen good times, bad times and sorrowful times,” he said. “I lived in the Depression years. At one time, all of a sudden I didn't have a job. I just had to thumb around.”

“And I'll tell you the first TV (I had), I thought that was really something,” he said. “I like TV.”

McMillan said the best years of his life were when he got married and when he got into civil service work.

Before his wife passed on, the McMillans would walk two miles a day, square dance and bowl to help keep the weight off and keep active. In one year, McMillan lost 40 pounds which helped lower his blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

“Now I don't take anything for that,” he said.

The only surgery McMillan has endured was lung surgery at age 91 to remove part of his right lobe of the lung. Since then, his physicals are positive every year.

“He doesn't forget a thing, and he does his own income taxes,” said McMillan's daughter-in-law, Karen. “Every time I take him to the doctor, they don't find anything wrong. When he gets in the car he goes, ‘I can't believe they didn't find anything wrong with me.' ”

“Last time they (doctor's office) already put away his file because they looked at his age and figured that he wasn't here (anymore),” Karen added.

McMillan keeps himself busy with crossword puzzles, BINGO twice a week and Wii bowling and happy hour with margaritas every Friday. He also takes a Spanish class, and every month is part of the Retired Old Men Eat Out (Romeo) Club, where he is the oldest member.

He throws the ball around with all his great-grandsons, and is the No. 1 fan on at all of their sporting events.

“They call him Gramps and he calls them tooter-roosters,” Karen said.

His 100th birthday celebration will begin with a celebration at Rigden Farm, and then with his entire family on June 28.

‘We are thrilled,” Karen said. “His four great-grandsons are looking forward to the celebration and want 100 candles on the cake.”

“We'll have the fire extinguishers ready,” Karen added.

To Celebrate

To wish Mac McMillan a Happy 100th Birthday, send a card to 37139 Soaring Eagle Circle, Windsor, CO. 80550.