POULSBO — As friends lit his birthday candles last week Melvin Prather’s eyes flashed with mirth.

“Oh boy, I hope I don’t get arrested for starting a forest fire,” he said with a chuckle.

Prather, a resident of Poulsbo’s Viking Haven Adult Family Home, celebrated his 100th birthday Nov. 24. He marked the day with a cake to share with residents and staff at Viking Haven and then a party with family and friends. His big day even included a special birthday card, from President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

“Even for us who work in elder care, it’s a very special event,” commented Viking Haven owner Rebecca Manzo on Prather’s 100th birthday. “He’s literally gone from the covered wagon days to the days of space exploration.”

“Just think of the things he’s seen in his lifetime,” added long-time family friend Darleen Berge.

A lifetime Washington resident, Prather was born in Wilbur in 1903. His mother eventually moved the family to Seattle, though, to escape the wild life of Eastern Washington at the time.

“Cowboys and Indians would come into town and they’d be drunk. They’d shoot everything up on Saturday nights,” he recalled.

But life also held some sweet moments for young Prather, who was the apple of his grandmother’s eye (she called him ‘precious’) and whose mother worked for Koenig’s Candies.

“We all had a sweet tooth,” Prather said of his mother’s career. “When she came home, I’d look through all the pockets of her apron for treats. I was just knee-high to a grasshopper then.”

As an adult, Prather served in the U.S. Navy, missing World War I by reason of youth and World War II by reason of age. He later worked as a machinist for Boeing.

Upon his retirement from Boeing about 25 years ago, Prather built a house in Scandia, where he lived until he broke his back one and a half years ago. He moved to Viking Haven with a halo on his scull, but has since made a complete recovery.

Though a century old, Prather retains a bright smile, perfect pitch and even gets up to swing dance on occasion. Manzo also joked that she thinks he has a silver tongue.

“He’s got us all convinced that he likes us best,” she joked.

And beneath his infectious laugh and a sunny disposition, Prather remains a humble man. He said his birthday celebration was more than he expected — especially for an accomplishment he takes little credit for.

“My secret is because I’m always thanking God that I’ve done so well,” he explained of the secret to his long and happy life.