My grandfather, Joseph
Thiriot, turned 102 years old yesterday! While it is an incredible achievement to live to such an age, I think it is most impressive how he did it.
He was born on August 20, 1906 in Provo, Utah to George and Alvira
Thiriot. He grew up on a ranch near
Panaca, Nevada. In 1934, he graduated from
Brigham Young University with a Bachelor's degree. He met my grandmother, Ellen Miller, while in Utah, and they married the day after he graduated. Grandpa Joe went on to graduate with a Master's degree from
Northwestern University in Illinois.
He returned to teach school in
Panaca, but in 1940, he moved to
Las Vegas and began teaching at
Las Vegas High School. The population of
Las Vegas was only about 10,000 in those years, so most
Las Vegas old timers know Grandpa Joe. He was a very popular teacher at
LVHS, and ran the drama department there for years. He even led the drive to build an auditorium for the plays that he produced. For that, and many achievements in his nearly three decades at
LVHS, the Clark County School District named a school in his honor in 2005.
Here he is in 2005, at the age of ninety-nine, on the first day of school at
Joseph E. Thiriot Elementary School. He read an inspirational statement that he wrote to the students, the staff and the faculty, and then he cut the ribbon, which opened the school ceremonially, if not officially.
In 2006, when Grandpa Joe turned 100, there was a huge birthday bash that he and his three children arranged. Hundreds of people whose lives he had touched came to the party. Some flew in from around the country. I couldn't help but wonder how many more would have come if he had not outlived all of his contemporaries.
When school was back in session, he returned to the school to be honored by the students his 100
th birthday. They made a huge banner for him and had a big celebration.
There was a story written about him in
Desert Saints Magazine in 2002 in which Grandpa Joe was quoted as saying, “What really counts is what you’
ve done to help others be effective in the years to come.” He has truly practiced what he preaches.
My grandfather is a man who was either blessed with or cultivated within himself an extraordinary amount of class. He is universally loved and respected. I have never met anyone who knew him that had anything other than the highest regard for him; I believe that is in large part attributable to the fact that he always treats others with respect.
Grandpa Joe is naturally one of the most cheerful people I have ever known. He listens and speaks with enthusiasm and inspires those around him to better themselves. While I am sure there have been those who have wronged him, I haven't heard him speak ill of others.
There are so many life lessons that I have learned from him, that I could go on for pages. In addition, there are numerous other life lessons he has taught me, whether by word or by example, which I have not yet mastered. I truly believe that I will need to live a long life like him so that I can be half the person that he is.
Perhaps Grandpa Joe's greatest, and most enduring legacy, are his three children, fourteen grandchildren, forty-one great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, who love and honor him. I am proud to call him my grandfather, and I wish for him to have a wonderful birthday, of which he is so deserving. I love you, Grandpa!
On May 30th, we trekked north on Highway 93 to the Pahranagat Valley near Alamo, Nevada, to spend a day on the ranch where Grandpa Thiriot grew up.
In the early 1900's, the Thiriots moved to a ranch just north of Ash Springs, Nevada.
Many of the Thiriot descendants who live in southern Nevada took advantage of the opportunity to explore the old ranch, and some came from as far away as Salt Lake City.
The old house was still standing, but barely.
The original wood siding was looking weathered, but we should all look so good when we are nearly a century old.
Ethan and Josh found what remained of a window sill to sit and rest for a moment.
On the north side of the house was a beautiful grove of trees that provided cool shade and a fun area to explore.
On the hill behind the house, there was an old cistern that was used to store spring water for the house.
Also behind the house was a root cellar which was used to preserve food supplies. It was remarkably cool for being a summer day. The cistern from the previous photo can be seen in the background on the hill above the cellar.
After we explored the surroundings, we had a potluck lunch and caught up with members of the extended family.
Ben was pleased that watermelon was on the menu.
It was a beautiful day to spend with family and to learn more about our beloved patriarch, Grandpa Joe Thiriot.
