Stories

A 95-Year-Old Man Just Became the Oldest Organ Donor in U.S. History

June 19, 2021

You’re never too old to be someone’s superhero!

A woman who is recovering from a liver transplant not only has a new lifesaving organ, but one that made history. Cecil Lockhart from Welch, West Virginia, died at age 95 on May 4th, making him the oldest organ donor in U.S. history, according to the Center for Organ Recovery & Education, which coordinated the recovery of the liver. The previous oldest donor was a 93-year-old, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing.

Cecil Lockhart’s family says he wanted to become an organ donor after his son, Stanley, healed and saved the lives of 75 people through tissue donation and restored sight to two others through cornea donation after he died in 2010.

“When my brother was a donor after he passed away a few years ago, it helped my dad to heal,” says Sharon White, Lockhart’s daughter. “Today, knowing his life is continuing through others really is helping us through our grief.”

Lockhart’s son-in-law, Bill Davis, shares that Lockhart was a giving individual throughout his life. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a coal miner for more than 50 years.

If we all thought this way and registered to be donors, I think the world would be a little bit better place.

– Bill Davis, Donor Family Member

At Lockhart’s funeral, his family asked everyone to register as an organ donor to honor his memory. Davis says some people have said they would register inspired by Lockhart’s ability to save other lives at age 95. To learn more, please click here.

 
There are more than 10,000 people in Texas in need of organ, eye or tissue transplants each year. Register today to become an organ, eye or tissue donor by visiting DonateLifeTexas.org.