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90-year-old earns degree from Purdue

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Ninety-year-old Lafayette resident Jerry Cole said earning a college degree has always been something he’s wanted to accomplish.

“If you have something in your mind that you think you would like to have done, do it,” said Jerry Cole. “I don’t care what your age is, do it.”

Instead of finishing high school and going to college, Jerry Cole enlisted in the Navy during World War II at the age of 16. After three years of service, he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps where he would earn his GED. Cole said college wasn’t an option at the time, and eventually he to moved to Lafayette from Virginia in 1962.

Although he became a successful insurance agent, the desire to earn a degree never went away.

“I was determined that I was going to get a degree someday, and this was the place to start,” said Jerry Cole.

He was in his 50s when he decided to enroll in an accounting class at Purdue University. However, a demanding career as a life insurance agent kept him from taking anymore classes. But Cole’s wife Faye said about four years ago, her husband came home and told her he had re-enrolled in classes.

“He had been so successful, had a fantastic career, traveled the world. I mean, what more could you want?” said Faye Cole. “His answer was, ‘I’ve never been to college and it has bothered me my whole life.’”

On May 9, Jerry will receive his diploma, but the last four years haven’t been without challenges. Faye said medical issues have forced her husband to take more classes online, but she said her husband just kept going.

“I’m just so proud of him,” said Faye Cole.” He’s the best man I’ve ever known.”

Jerry has taken classes through Purdue at Ivy Tech and Purdue University’s College of Technology, located at Lafayette’s SIA plant. He earned his associate’s degree in 2012, but he said his recently earned bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership is proof that it’s never too late to accomplish your goals.

“You can do it,” said Cole. “All you have to do is make up your mind. Even though it may have taken me 40 years to do it, I did it, and I’m happy that I did it. Makes no difference to you or anybody else. It’s right here.”