Coors gifts Albuquerque man free beer for 100th birthday

Robert Nolen Jr., who turned 100 in May, says his secret to long life is simple: One Coors Banquet a day.

On Tuesday, Coors Brewing Company came to Albuquerque to throw a surprise birthday party for Nolen. The company presented the centenarian with merchandise, a beer-can-shaped cake from local cake shop ABC Cake Shop & Bakery and several cases of his favorite beer.

Coors Distribution Sales Executive Jeffery Morgan and Daniel Collazo of ICF Next — the Chicago-based PR firm representing Coors at the event — presented Nolen with the gifts for his 100th birthday.

"Thank you for being a longtime fan," Collazo said during the presentation. "We were thrilled to learn that your secret for reaching 100 is by enjoying some lemon cake and a can of Coors Banquet a day … you've been a part of our history … so we want to celebrate reaching this milestone in your legacy."

Born in Texas, graduated from UNM

Nolen was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and raised in Tyler, Texas — known as the rose capital of the America.

Nolen served in the 102nd Infantry in World War II. His division was in the Hedgerows in France before moving to the front lines in Germany.

"I was pretty badly wounded just inside Germany," Nolen said. "And spent about eight months in army hospitals in Belgium, in England and in America."

Nolen received a Purple Heart for his service.

He said he got his taste for beer while in the Army and thought Coors was the best.

Nolen attended several different colleges before eventually graduating from the University of New Mexico.

He met his wife, Glenna, in Albuquerque in the spring of 1948 and they were married that fall. Both became teachers.

Nolen taught middle school math for 30 years.

The couple was married for 66 years before Glenna died. They had one girl and one boy, two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

The oldest of the great-great-grandchildren graduated from high school the same day Nolen celebrated his 100th birthday on May 18.

"They threw a great big party for me," Nolen said. "It was quite a party here … my family … flew in, some of them came from Texas, some from California and Arizona, and we had quite a gathering."

Green thumb

Nolen describes his life in one word: Blessed.

He stays active tending to a garden outside his townhouse in the Foothills and cools off by sipping a Coors Banquet throughout the day.

Neighbors see him as the heart of the community.

"He doesn't like to cut his flowers, he likes them outside so everybody can see them," said Nolen's neighbor Laurel Humphrey, who was his late wife's best friend. "He's won awards over the years for all the floral displays that his yard has presented to the community."

Humphrey said Nolen is the original owner of the townhouse. She moved next door 35 years ago, describing the two families as "institutions around the neighborhood."