SAXONBURG — Bob LeClair turned 100 Monday, but he didn’t want to be the center of attention.

Of course, being that he is a World War II veteran and received a Bronze Star for valor, his family wasn’t going to let that birthday wish come true.

Monday night, LeClair was treated to a big dinner in the Magnolia Place dining room that included his family, a flag ceremony from the Scouts BSA Troop 683 and proclamations in his honor from Saxonburg Mayor Bill Gillespie; state Rep. Marci Mustello, R-11th; and state Sen. Scott Hutchison, R-21st. A representative from Tarentum VFW Post 5758 presented LeClair with a plaque.

The World War II Army veteran has been a resident of Magnolia Place, 100 Bella Court, for nine years, said Amie Feeney, the director of quality assurance.

“He doesn’t like to be the center of attention. He likes to have fun. He’s our jokester,” she said. “He likes to be in the mix with everyone, but he doesn’t want to be the center of attention.”

LeClair said he was feeling good on his 100th birthday and looking forward to his birthday meal of fried oysters, breaded mushrooms, clam chowder, bread pudding and pecan ice cream.

LeClair said he loves seafood and on an outing to Butler’s Red Lobster last week tucked into a pound of crab legs and an order of oysters.

LeClair was born Dec. 12, 1922, in Tarentum, the son of Rose and Jerome LeClair. He was a twin with his late brother, Richard. He grew up with Richard, two other brothers and a sister.

LeClair said he didn’t graduate from high school, leaving a semester shy of graduation.

“I got a job at Allegheny Ludlum. I did everything, but mostly I was a spot grinder.”

That was until, during the height of World War II, he was drafted into the Army on Jan. 3, 1943.

“I was sent to Fort Meade for training and became a field linemen. You take telephone wires down to the front lines,” he said.

As a member of 76th Division, 385th Regiment, HQ 2nd Battalion, LeClair strung telephone lines in France, Luxembourg and Germany.

“I saw combat, but I didn’t get shot at a lot,” LeClair said. But he was awarded the Bronze Star for valor.

“I was out repairing telephone lines when we were attacked by mortar. I kept on doing my job,” he said.

He doesn’t really think he was being brave. “I didn’t think about anything but doing my job,” he said.

The end of the war in Europe found him in the southern German city of Zwickau.

He was discharged from the Army on Nov. 6, 1945, was sailed back to the United States on the Queen Mary, the same luxury liner that delivered him to Europe at the start of his tour.

From there, the travel arrangements got considerably less luxurious. After docking in New York City, LeClair took a train to Camp Hill and then hitchhiked the rest of the way home to Tarentum.

He returned to his job at Allegheny Ludlum, and six years later went to work at the Pittsburgh Plate Glass plant in Creighton. He retired from PPG in 1981.

Along the way, he married his wife, Aurora, in 1948 and raised a daughter and a son and eventually was the grandfather to five and the great-grandfather to 12.

“He was a good dad. I had a good childhood,” said his daughter Barb Airgood, who made the trip with her husband Ron, from their home in South Carolina to be with her father on his 100th birthday.

“It’s a special trip in the winter. We usually don’t come in the winter,” Airgood said.

His wife passed away in 2007, and he moved to Magnolia Place in 2013.

He attributes his continued good health to red wine and Mail Pouch chewing tobacco.

LeClair said, “When I had my heart attack and bypass (in 2007) the doctor told me to drink a little wine in the evening. It’s good for your blood.”

The Mail Pouch habit goes back longer. “I started when I was 15,” he said. He said he’s tried to quit a few times, but it didn’t last.

However, one habit remained broken. Asked if he had any secrets for his longevity, LeClair was emphatic.

“Quit smoking. I quit 50 years ago. It was great that I gave it up and stayed away from it,” he said.