There won’t be a birthday party for Roy Drinkard of Cullman on his 106th birthday. Instead, family and friends are soliciting birthday cards and expecting a deluge.

Drinkard just got home after 123 days in the hospital. His goal was to be home by his birthday, and he made it.

Among his other accomplishments, Drinkard is the oldest living U.S. Marine. Semper fi.

The Cullman community enabled Roy Drinkard, and at 106, he has never forgotten his roots.

Drinkard was born July 12, 1920, in Falkville in nearby Morgan County. His father was a businessman and served as mayor for 20 years. The fruit does not fall far from the tree.

After his discharge from the Marines, Drinkard moved to Marshall County and entered the funeral home business. He felt it was a dead-end business and left. His family sold the funeral businesses.

Drinkard moved to Cullman in 1949. The president was Harry Truman. He was a partner in Drinkard Pontiac-GMC from May 1949 to May 1955, then became owner and operator of Drinkard Chevrolet Company until 1974, when he turned it over to his son-in-law, Mitch Smith.

When Drinkard started Drinkard Chevrolet in 1955, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the United States. That observation puts the Roy Drinkard story into historical context.

Over the next half century, businessman and civic leader Drinkard earned the distinction of “Outstanding Citizen of the Century,” named by The Cullman Times. In 1953-54, he served as chair of the board of directors of the Cullman Chamber. That was just the beginning.

Roy Drinkard is more than a centenarian. He is a beloved local figure, a veteran, and one of Alabama’s most respected businessmen. Known for his sharp mind, strong handshake, and enduring patriotism, Drinkard has played a vital role in shaping Cullman’s business and civic landscape for decades.

Folks who have known Roy Drinkard can tell stories that reflect the character and personality of the man. Many of them are quite humorous.

Here is an iconic photo of Roy Drinkard with President Donald Trump. Drinkard is nearly 26 years older than the oldest president in American history. When Roy Drinkard was born, the president was Woodrow Wilson. How many Americans are still alive and active who were alive during the Wilson administration?

There was an organization of leaders in the Cullman area that promoted the region starting in the 1950s. Drinkard coined an appropriate and colorful name for the group: “The Flying 50s.” A hotel has now opened in downtown Cullman honoring Drinkard and the other leaders of that growth period — The Flying Fifty Hotel.

Drinkard holds a reunion of the Flying Fifties every day of his life. He is the only living member.

He was the longtime chairman of the Industrial Development Board, which recruited King Edward Cigar, Bendix-Westinghouse, Americold, and National Screw.

In 2020, he was appointed to the Troy University Board of Trustees for a 10-year term and served on the finance committee. He needs to live and stay active until 2030 to serve out that term. Few would bet against him.

After turning over the car business to family, Drinkard became president of Drinkard Development, LLC, a commercial real estate development firm. He developed shopping centers across Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Ohio, anchored by Wal-Mart, J.C. Penney, K-Mart, Kroger, Winn-Dixie, and others.

He was the number one developer in the United States for K-Mart in 1981 and number one for Kroger in 1982. Drinkard Development built and operated Marktplatz Food Court, Marktplatz Shopping Center, Arnold Village Shopping Center, Town Square Shopping Center, and King Edward Shopping Center.

He has been a member of First Baptist Church in Cullman for more than 75 years.

Do you think the last chapter has been written in the Roy Drinkard story at 106? No. New chapters are being written even now.

Roy Drinkard still lives in his historic home, “the Borkenau,” which he bought in 1949.

He remains active in Cullman community affairs and in the Republican Party.

He continues to raise funds for the Wallace State Community College–Hanceville scholarship foundations and their endowments.

He led the Pledge of Allegiance when Donald Trump came to Cullman in 2021 for a yuuuuuge outdoor rally.

He led the Pledge of Allegiance on the final day of the Alabama Legislature’s 2025 session — sine die.