By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - Former President Jimmy Carter turned 100 Tuesday, becoming the first former US commander-in-chief to live for a century.
The feat of becoming the longest-lived president adds to a list of firsts for Carter, who was the first US president to be born in a hospital, and the first and only United States Naval Academy graduate to become president.
The Democrat from the state of Georgia and peanut farmer was the third president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, bestowed with the honor for his efforts to peacefully end international conflicts.
Carter remained relatively active through the first half of his 90s, working with the housing organization Habitat for Humanity and his NGO, the Carter Center. He was regularly seen on Habitat “home builds" where he would gather with volunteers and staffers through the 2010s.
Carter "stands as a beacon of leadership and compassion, inspiring people around the globe," the Carter Center said in a statement.
"President Carter’s legacy continues to inspire hope and progress worldwide. His century of life is a testament to the power of service, and The Carter Center stands as an enduring reminder of his commitment to peace, health, and human rights," it added.
Carter has spent nearly two years in hospice care, defying expectations that he would soon die.
US President Joe Biden, Carter's junior by 19 years, ordered the installation of a display on the North Lawn of the White House, celebrating Carter's milestone. It will remain at the site throughout the day.
Carter was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia and remained an active member of the community until he was placed in hospice care 20 months ago. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, died in November 2023.