A Conversation with “Mr. Fred,” 86-Year-Old Learning to Read
"Mr. Fred" Oliver, 86, after a morning of improving his reading and writing at the Literacy Council of Central Alabama.
Fred Oliver of Birmingham is 86 and a world traveler. He served in the Korean War, spent time in Japan, and has held more jobs than he can count. He loves to visit far-off places, but as we reported yesterday, his latest odyssey is close to home, at the Literacy Council of Central Alabama: he’s learning to read and write. Mr. Fred says he’s enjoyed the whole long adventure of his life, but the conversation starts on a sad note – losing a companion who’d helped him when life demanded reading and writing.
Listen above or read excerpts below.
FALLEN BEHIND, BUT CATCHING UP
“All my kids are real educated — I’m the only guy that’s behind the times.”
EMBARRASSED TO SEEK HELP WITH READING?
“No. No! I’m not embarrassed. I’m a man. I ain’t no wimp out here … I’m trying to pull myself up … If you’re dumb and you want to stay dumb, ain’t nothing I can tell ya. There’s help out here. You’re not living in the 1800s. So get out and help yourself. If you don’t help yourself, you’re lost.”
WORKING FROM (ALMOST) DAY ONE
“I started working at the City Ice Company … I was driving a truck at 10 years old, right up there on 22nd and Sixth Avenue.”
STAYING YOUNG
“I’m still learning. You’re never too old to learn … I’m 86 years old, and I love this school. If they close [the Literacy Council], I don’t know what I’d do … I love everybody here.”
You can learn more about adult illiteracy and the Literacy Council of Central Alabama’s work in Part One by clicking here.
“Mr. Fred” Oliver turns 87 on November 30.
Dan Carsen, WBHM
Literacy Council tutor James Mersmann, left, and Mr. Fred take a break from lessons and good-natured trash talking.
Out with the mayo: How Ukrainians reclaim holiday food
For many people from former Soviet countries, New Year's is a big holiday feast time. A Ukrainian restaurant in Washington gives NPR a taste of what's on the menu.
His brother’s mental illness isolated his family. Now he’s helping other caregivers
When it comes to serious mental illness, family caregivers are crucial partners. But often, they must fend for themselves. A new solution offers them support.
50 wonderful things from 2025
Each year, critic Linda Holmes looks back on the year and compiles a list of the things that brought her joy.
Farmers are about to pay a lot more for health insurance
Tariffs, inflation, and other federal policies have battered U.S. farmers' bottom lines. Now many farmers say the expiration of federal health care subsidies will make their coverage unaffordable.
Why do we make New Year’s resolutions? A brief history of a long tradition
One of the earliest mentions of New Year's resolutions appeared in a Boston newspaper in 1813. But the practice itself can be traced back to the Babylonians.
Judge orders new trial for Alabama woman sentenced to 18 years in prison after stillbirth
Lee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Tickal vacated Brooke Shoemaker’s 2020 conviction for chemical endangerment of a child resulting in death. Tickal said Shoemaker's attorneys presented credible new evidence that the infection caused the stillbirth.
