SMITH: 100-year-old Orlean Castronis a Link to University of Georgia's Past

Orlean Castronis is a retired former journalist, the widow of one of the most popular players and coaches ever to wear the Red and Black, and likely is the only living person to have seen Harry Mehre coach a game live between the hedges of Georgia’s Sanford Stadium.

You see, this delightful, sanguine and energetic co-ed of yesteryear is 100 years old. “Yes,” she smiles. “I have reached the century mark,” but certainly not making a fuss about it. Her genuine modesty won’t allow that.

Looking much younger than she is, she does not own up to a secret potion for longevity, but when you become aware of her daily routine, you most likely would maintain that exercise certainly must be a consequential factor.

Every day, she arises at her place of residency, Talmadge Terrace, on Athens’ Westside, gets in her 2007 Honda and drives herself to the Athens YMCA where she exercises for a couple of hours: half an hour on the treadmill; half an hour on the “stepper” and a half hour lifting weights. It is a relaxed routine with brief rests in between, but consistency is her hallmark.

She rarely takes a day off. When exercise ends, she might go grocery shopping, depending on what’s on the menu at her residence at Talmadge Terrace. She has faith that fresh fruits and vegetables will keep her going.

There is a big smile which accompanies disclosure that as the evening shadows encroach, she ends her day with a couple of vodka tonics. “I certainly have an affinity for sipping casually as I watch the news. I have always been a fan of the news although I don’t care for some of the characters who dominate the nightly news.

“When I started to work at the International News Service after graduation, I wore heels to work at the office which was right downtown at the corner of Marietta and Broad Streets. That meant that when the legislature was in session, I had to walk over to the Capitol to cover the political scene. That was pretty good exercise. I enjoyed that experience, and I keep up with the news. I guess you could say I enjoy politics but there are a few politicians I don’t like.”

A native of Augusta, she came to Georgia as a freshman in 1941 and enrolled in the Henry Grady School of Journalism. World War II soon was raging on two fronts which meant that opportunities for women was off the charts by the time she was graduated in 1944. She always enrolled in summer school which allowed her to graduate early because her husband-to-be, Mike Castronis, was declared 4F owing to a pickup softball game injury. As a catcher he was blocking the plate when the baserunner collided with him and “caused his kidney to explode,” she says.

While he did not have to go off to war, he was cleared to play football, which was pretty much his decision. He lettered in 1943-44-45, a three-time All-SEC lineman. He had an outstanding year for the Bulldogs as a senior in 1945 as the Allies gained the upper hand in bringing the war to a close with Germany and Japan.

Interestingly, Mike was chosen All-America in 1945 by the International News Service, Orleans' employer, but she says she did not influence the wire service’s decision.

“All his teammates accused me of getting him recognized, but I was not able to do that. I was happy that he made All-America which was a great honor. I think he deserved it, but he didn’t get any help from me,” she said.

“Coach Mike,” as he was called, became one of the most beloved personalities in history of Bulldog athletics, but he was best known over the state for his work with the Athens Y camp at Tallulah Falls. He was so popular and well known that his friends felt that if he ran for governor he would have been a cinch at the ballot box.

Every home game Saturday, you will find her in Sanford Stadium, cheering the “Dogs/Dawgs,” and never fussing about the weather. She, along with her daughters Mary and Helen, and son, Mike, show up “rain or shine.”

“We really like the night games,” she says, “I was happy to see them name the field for Coach (Vince) Dooley. He made arrangements for us to keep our tickets, and we will always be grateful for that.”

While she did not say so, her favorite song probably is Bob Hope’s popular anthem, “Thanks for the memories.” She has enjoyed countless memories in her lifetime — one of them being a phone call to the entertainer while working at INS.

“There was a rumor that (Hope) had been in a plane crash in the Tampa area, and I was advised by an editor to ‘find out,’" she said. "So, I got him on the phone and asked him. He laughed and said, ‘No, I am sitting here, enjoying talking to you.’”

Now that she has reached the century milestone, she says, “I think I’ll go for 200.” Don’t bet against her. I hope she makes it, and also hope I’ll be there to interview her.

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