JOE TRONCO, the eldest of our lodge members, turns 90 this year. He was born on November 24, 1918, to Sadie Carnaggio and James Tronco, at their family's residence above the family-owned fruit store at 1810 Main Street, Columbia, SC. Incidentally, Joe was delivered by Columbia's first female physician, Dr. Jane Guignard.

After the end of World War I, Joe's dad moved the family to his hometown Philadelphia, Pa., where brother and sisters Charlie, Carmella (Lodge member Carmella Tronco Martin) and Anna Rose were born. On March 30, 1930, at the height of the Depression, the family returned to Columbia, SC.

Joe graduated from Columbia High School in 1935 and played third base on the American Legion Post 6 baseball team. In 1936, Joe began his career with Sears Roebuck, where he worked for twenty-five (25) cents an hour, totaling $12 per week. He was promoted to manager of customer service, a first in Sears history. Joe married Crystal Rutland in 1940. According to Joe, Crystal was a very good cook and could cook Italian foods better than anyone. They were blessed with four children (Joan, Joe, Angela and Mike), and enjoyed 46 years together. Crystal died in 1986. Joe later married Millie Amick, who he also touts as a very good cook who can cook Italian better than anyone.

Joe was the first person in Columbia to register for the draft, but wasn't called to serve. He went to the draft board and they found his file in the "over 38s". It wasn't long before Joe became a Naval Radar Operator and was part of the Iwo Jima and Okinawa invasions.

In 1943, Joe and three Jewish Sears employees started the General Arts Floor Company, which is now owned by his son Mike and re-named Tronco Floor Covering. Joe still goes to the office daily. Joe was a lecturing Knight in the Elks and was in line for Exalter Ruler when he was struck by a sudden illness and was unable to continue. Joe was instrumental in establishing the Cardinal Newman High School Booster Club, along with Henry Martin and Dom Fusci.

Joe is extremely proud of his children and their accomplishments: Joan is purchasing director in Tampa, Florida; Joe, Jr. is Senior Vice President of First Union Bank in Charlotte, NC; Angela is a nurse practitioner at USC; and Mike, who Joe states is "a top notch vocalist and the most knowledgeable floor covering man in Columbia."

Joe thanks his mother for "keeping us in clean clothes and pointing out that an education is the key to improving our lives."