Celebrating 93 Years of the World’s Oldest Living Male Triplets
Born amid the Great Depression, the world’s oldest living male triplets, Larry, Lon, and Gene Brown, celebrated their 93rd birthday. Their journey from a Kansas farm to earning a Guinness World Record encapsulates a legacy of siblings’ resilience and shared adventures.
By Beth Snider · December 10, 2023
The Brown triplets, Larry Alden, Lon Bernard, and Gene Carol were born on December 1, 1930, making them the oldest living male triplets. They were born amid the challenges of the Great Depression in Kalvesta, Kansas, the trio has not only defied the odds of time but have all remained close for almost a century.
As the youngest members of a larger family, the three brothers brought unexpected joy to their parents during a difficult era. Larry, the eldest among the triplets, recalls their upbringing near Nevada, Missouri, where they spent their childhood on a farm with their three older brothers and one sister, who have now all passed away. Growing up in the mid-century, the brothers found solace in each other’s company. Despite typical sibling disagreements, Larry emphasizes that being triplets meant they always had someone to play with and share life’s adventures. From basketball games to the occasional boxing match between Gene and Lon, their bond extended beyond blood, they were friends through and through.
Raised on a farm with abundant timber and two creeks, the triplets engaged in various activities that defined their youth. They trapped and sold furs from opossums, skunks, squirrels, rabbits, and muskrats, helping out with the needs of their family. Larry fondly remembers their pet dog they called ‘White Jeggs’, a loyal companion during their boyhood years, he was lost in a storm, leaving the brothers devastated. Fortunately, months later, a neighbor found Jeggs and brought him home, reuniting the boys with their beloved pet.
As World War II loomed, the triplets spent time working at their eldest brother’s home near Garden City, Kansas, they rotated so they could also maintain their responsibilities at home. Selling gas to farmers and locals, learning the responsibilities of young adults. By the age of 11, Larry was delivering gasoline to farms by himself recalling “That was scary for me. I was afraid I would get lost or the Highway Patrol would stop me.” Their hard work allowed them to support themselves, purchasing clothes, schoolbooks, and supplies for school. The brothers developed a strong work ethic which became the foundation for their future successes.
When the Korean War erupted in 1950, all three brothers answered the call to serve, signing up for the Air Force. Larry was not accepted (due to asthma), forcing him to take a different route, he found success working at Boeing Company and General Motors before retiring. The other two brothers served, and afterward, Gene went to college and started a career as an electrical engineer working at Phillips Petroleum Company. Lon pursued a path that led him to become a Baptist minister and officiated the weddings of both of his brothers.
The story of the Brown triplets continues as they celebrate their 93rd trip around the sun, and they have officially been declared holders of the Guinness World Record as the “Oldest Living Male Triplets”. Although they never thought they would break a record title, Larry says they are glad they could make it long enough to do so, sharing the secret to a long and healthy life for him and his brothers has been staying away from smoking, drinking, and drugs.
Due to difficulties with traveling, this year they did not get to share the festivities of their birthday. Missing the collective milestone of turning 90 (due to Covid), the last time they were able to gather in 2022, and enjoyed uniting their families to commemorate their 92nd birthday. Larry has three children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, Lon has four children, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, and Gene has two children, six grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.