WWI ‘Last Man’ Club Meet Down to 1

Only one member showed up for the annual meeting of the Last Man Club, founded 34 years ago by veterans of World War I aspiring to outlive one another.

Only two members survive. Both are 97.

The club has met each Veterans Day since 1958 for a fish dinner at a Gastonia restaurant. At one time, it had 20 members.

J. Carl Stowe got dressed to go to this year’s meeting on Wednesday but felt too weak to attend. That left charter member Leland Alexander to carry on the tradition. He joked about holding next year’s meeting “up at my place.”