George Francis | Oldest man in U.S., 112

George Francis, the nation's oldest man at age 112, died Saturday of congestive heart failure at a nursing home in Sacramento, Calif.

Mr. Francis lived through both World Wars, the first walk on the moon, and the election of the first black president. He was born June 6, 1896, in New Orleans. He and his wife, Josephine, had a son and three daughters. Josephine Francis died of cancer in 1964.

UCLA gerontologist Stephen Coles, who maintains a list of the world's oldest people, said Mr. Francis lived 112 years and 204 days. Walter Breuning of Montana, who is 112 years, 98 days old, becomes the country's oldest man. The world's oldest person is Maria de Jesus of Portugal, who is 115 years, 109 days old, Coles said, and the oldest man is Tomoji Tanabe of Japan, 113 years and 101 days.

- AP