Joseph Alfred Ihle, Sr. was born on August 7, 1922, one of three children born to Joseph Alfred Ihle and Iva Mae (LeCrone) Ihle in Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma. His father was manager of the Bristow Lumber Company.
He and Marjorie May Manter met while in Marine officer training school at Quantico, VA. They married on September 2, 1944, in Quantico, had four children together and later divorced. His children are Mary Gentry, Ruth Ann Middlebrooks, Joe Ihle, Jr. (D) and Bill Ihle of Bristow and he is blessed with seven grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
His early education took place in a rural school. He graduated high school in Bristow where he played basketball. First, he attended a junior college and then University of Oklahoma. World War II changed the course of his life. Capt. Joe Ihle served in the Marine Corps and fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima until the battle was won and the war was over. He was then sent to Japan with the Occupational Forces. He does not like to talk about the war, but rather the life he made for himself after.
In his 30s, he and his partners started Southwest Pecan Company processing plant. He says the Oklahoma native pecan is basically the best pecan because it has bright color and is noted for its flavor in cooked goods. Oklahoma firms Bama Pies and Braum’s have both used pecans from Southwest Pecan Company.
In the southeast corner of Creek County, just a few miles outside Bristow, sits a 640--acre paradise of about 2,000 pecan trees on Joe’s land. Most of the trees were planted from seed; so, it has been a long time developing where they are today. He still drives to his farm, where he has worked for the last 70 years and does the patient work of all the grafting of young trees they plant changing them from native to an improved variety of pecans. Seven decades later, he is still looking ahead to the future. There has been more good than bad. He went on to be the first three-term president of the National Pecan Shellers and Processors Association. When he was 99, he was awarded “Grower of the Year” by the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association. He still has an office at Spirit Bank in Bristow, works on his pecan farm and Sooner Pecan Company with his son and grandson. He was involved in the formation of the Bristow Parks and Recreation non-profit organization to repair and rebuild Bristow Park. He is sharp as a tack, is an avid OU fan and continues to be involved in the Methodist Church.
Joe embodies our Greatest Generation in that he rose from modest origins, answered the call of duty, fulfilled his ambitions, raised a family, served his community and pursued love and happiness. Now at the century mark, he is a time capsule reminding us of the best values of a bygone era. Honor, duty, sacrifice and service to the community are cornerstones of America.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Welcome to the Centenarians Hall of Fame!