Willard Nelson of Lutsen, who passed away Jan. 19 at the age of 103, was believed to be the oldest male World War II veteran in northern Minnesota. His son, Richard, shared this photo that was taken in the mid-’70s in New York City. Explains Richard: “As vice president/national sales manager for Fiat Motor Corporation of North America, Willard secured Bob Hope to be the guest entertainment for the annual national sales meeting. Bob and Willard spun yarns, and rumor has it that it was a tie for the best yarn!” Over the years, Willard was generous enough to share some of those yarns with readers in occasional columns he wrote for the News-Herald.
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