Paul, the 104-year-old man who has been retired since 1975 after being forced to lay off: “I’ve been lucky all my life”

Paul Petit was born in 1921, and like many men of his generation, he spent his working life doing tough, physical labor — in his case, as a forge worker in the French town of Champagnole. Then, in 1975, just five months before he was set to retire, he was abruptly laid off. “I was able to collect my severance and make it to retirement,” he told Le Progrès.

The factory where he worked was already on its last legs and would soon shut down for good. The company’s decision meant Petit received a severance package — and began a retirement that continues today. At 104 years old, he has been retired for more than half a century.

A life marked by war, hunger, and survival

Petit’s path was anything but easy. During World War II, he joined the French Resistance and was later imprisoned in Germany in 1944. He endured hunger, harsh conditions, and captivity. “In 1942, we were starving. Thankfully, we could work in the garden. That’s what made me swear off spinach for life,” he joked. Two years later, he narrowly escaped a bullet fired by the SS.

He was eventually freed by U.S. troops after going four days without food. Once liberated, he returned to the fight until the war ended. “The Americans rescued us and helped us recover. They promised us the Croix de Guerre, but we never received anything,” he said. Still, he insists luck has followed him ever since.

A local legend at 104

Petit now lives in Ney, a small commune in the Bourgogne–Franche‑Comté region, where he’s the oldest resident. At 104, he still lives independently — cooking his own meals and walking to the weekly market. In 1995, he survived a heart attack thanks to his son’s quick thinking. “He found me and threw a bucket of cold water on me. It gave me an electric shock,” Petit recalled.

“You need a lot of luck to reach 100. I’ve had it, that’s all,” he says. Since turning 100, neighbors and even the mayor regularly stop by his home. He’s become a living symbol of the town — a testament to resilience, independence, and sheer tenacity.

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