MILWAUKEE (AP) - A 50-year gap in his higher education didn't
stop Clarence Garrett.
After returning to college in spring of 2006 as a full-time
student, Garrett completed course work at the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee and was awarded his bachelor's degree at
commencement ceremonies Sunday - at the age of 87.
"We are not sure if Clarence Garrett is the oldest to ever
graduate from UWM, but we do know that there had not been a
graduate for some time who was born when the president was Woodrow
Wilson," Chancellor Carlos Santiago said.
On hand were Garrett's wife, Mary, his children and
grandchildren.
He was chosen to lead the graduates from the College of Letters
and Science into the U.S. Cellular Arena, and he earned a standing
ovation when awarded his degree.
The Baltimore native served as a civilian at a U.S. Navy
facility in Virginia before World War II. Once the war began,
Garrett, who is black, served with the segregated Army in Europe.
He later settled in Milwaukee and took courses at the college
that later became UWM, but he gave up college to raise a family.
"After all my children went to college ... I said, 'Why
shouldn't I?"' Garrett said. "And I have loved it ever since."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-12-17-07 0617EST