Alabama Father, 99, and Son, 80, Claim Free Oysters After 50 Years
For more than five decades, a sign hanging on the wall of a Mobile, Alabama restaurant made a promise. On February 23, someone finally collected.
A Family Tradition
The Rush family's connection to Wintzell's Oyster House in downtown Mobile stretches back to 1972. Jim Rush and his son Jimmy began stopping in on Friday afternoons before riding in a Mardi Gras parade together, making a meal of oysters part of their annual ritual. The tradition continued for over 50 years, even after Jimmy relocated to Florida.
On every visit, one sign among the dozens that line the restaurant's walls caught their attention. It read: "Free oysters, to any man 80 years old, accompanied by his father."
No One Had Ever Claimed the Offer
The Rush family noticed, year after year, that no one had ever redeemed the longstanding promise. Jimmy began doing the math. His father, Jim, was in strong health. The milestone birthday was on the horizon. The family started talking about it seriously 25 to 30 years ago.
"We felt like our dad was going to make it to 100 because he's in great health," said Carl Rush, Jimmy's younger brother. Carl can recite the sign's wording from memory — a testament to how long the family had been eyeing it.
When Jimmy asked a bartender whether anyone had ever claimed the offer, the answer was no. The Rush family decided they would be the first.
The Night They Made History
On the evening of Jimmy's 80th birthday, the three Rush men walked into Wintzell's together. Jim was 99 years old. Around 60 friends and family members joined them to mark the occasion.
Wintzell's honored the founder's promise without hesitation, serving Jimmy his free oysters and celebrating alongside the crowd. The restaurant later commemorated the moment on social media, calling it one of Wintzell's rarest traditions turned into a real-life milestone.
Jim summed it up simply: "We're the number ones."
Jimmy Called It His Best Birthday Yet
For Jimmy, no other birthday had ever carried this kind of weight. "Never thought about any birthdays except my 80th," he said. "That's the one I was looking forward to — because of the sign."
The evening brought together decades of family memory, shared meals, and the satisfaction of following through on something the Rush men had quietly planned for most of their lives.
The Family Plans to Do It All Again in 2028
The story does not end with Jimmy. Carl turns 80 in October 2028, and the family fully intends to return to Wintzell's for a second round of history-making. Jim, who will be 101 at that point if all goes to plan, has already said he intends to be there.
"My dad says he's going to make it, so that's good enough for me," Carl said.
Jim's Secret to Longevity at 99
A World War Two and Korean War veteran, Jim Rush takes no medication. He acknowledged losing some of his vision but otherwise remains in remarkable health. When asked about his secret, he credited faith above all else, saying he has been "very lucky and very well taken care of through my God."
Through tears at the end of the night, he offered a three-word summary of a life well lived: "It worked out."
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