Eileen Charbo was born 99 years ago today in Mankato, Kan. She was one of six children born to James Arthur Metz and Anna Luella Jones. Charbo's six-times great-grandfather was Capt. James Wright, who arrived in America in 1640 from England to serve in the new British colony, as did his members of his family. Later ancestors' participation in the Revolutionary War made Charbo eligible to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with which she has been active for 49 years.

Today, members of the DAR and Charbo's family will take part in celebrating her birthday.

Charbo's family history is what sparked her interest in documenting historical information. When her first husband, Marcellus Miles, died in 1955, she began her career as a journalist writing for such publications as Old West, True West and Frontier Times. "I'd send in my stories and they'd either send me a check or send back my story," she says.

History always interested Charbo, but her main motivation to start writing was her son Marc. "I wanted a job that would keep me at home where I could take care of my son, so I bought an Olivetti typewriter and started writing," she remembers.

In addition to contributing to magazines, Charbo became a feature writer for newspapers in Kansas and then in Houston where she moved in 1960 after marrying her second husband, Frederick Charbo. She also wrote book reviews for the Houston Post and received a national award for her book review on Charles de Gaulle. Charbo was a frequent contributor to the national magazine of the Daughters of the American Revolution for many years and has retained her membership with the Press Women of America for more than 40 years.

A certain interview was one of the highlights of Charbo's journalism career: "I interviewed Eleanor Roosevelt at her home on the Hudson River. She was wearing tennis shoes and had a scarf on her head. She was so gracious and every word she said seemed so sincere."

As the oldest member of the DAR in Santa Fe, Charbo continues to be involved with the organization. "We have a very active chapter of about 70 members. We work to provide nursing and ROTC scholarships, and every year we hold a history contest for children."

Charbo also continues to write monthly on the news of her neighbors' activities and those of their pets in the newsletter, In the Spotlight, published by the staff at Ponce de Leon where she has lived for the past 10 years.

Charbo likes to keep writing for social reasons. "At my age, I'm constantly making new friends because people are here today and gone tomorrow."

Ana Pacheco's weekly tribute to our community elders appears every Sunday she can be reached at 505-474-2800.