James Fite says the longest he’s gone without being able to go where he wanted was less than 10 hours in his life.
So when the 84-year-old broke his hip in a fall several months ago, his first question to the surgeon was, “What guarantee do you have of me being 100 percent when I get over this?”
When the surgeon wouldn’t give him answer, “I told him I was going to be 100 percent,” Fite said.
The former general contracting business and ranch owner knows the value of “giving it his all,” having spent most of his life running his own construction business, Twin FF Inc., with his twin brother. He operated construction equipment starting at the age of 18 and sold the business in 2010.
“I’d planned on working for a while,” he said.
Fite also had a 400-acre ranch in West Plains, running cattle and horses. At one time, he had more than 2,000 acres.
Although he sold the ranch last year at 83 years old, Fite still finds plenty of ways to stay busy.
Fite is a regular at several restaurants in town, showing up in his 2023 white Corvette for breakfast at Oscar’s Classic Diner every morning, and getting his usual dinner order — a prime rib sandwich — at Ecco Lounge in the evenings, where he is affectionately known as “Big Papa” by wait staff.
He even rents out Oscar’s for his annual birthday parties, which started when he moved to Jefferson City four years ago.
“When I first moved here, I said, ‘I don’t have any friends!'” Fite said. “So my daughter and son-in-law held a birthday party here for me at Oscar’s where 48 people came.”
Fite said he plans on living to be 100 and inviting everyone to his birthday party.
“I don’t know how I’m going to arrive,” he said. “Maybe in a box, but I’m going to have it!”
He intends to get back to his weekly schedule of going out on the town every night and works diligently on his home therapy exercises each day to continue living life to the fullest.
“I’m walking with this cane now, so I’m kind of limited,” he said. “But I don’t care what they say, I’m throwing it away in two weeks.”
When asked about the secret of living a fulfilling life, Fite recommends going after what you want.
“If you have a dream, the way to make it come true is you make it come true yourself,” he said. “Nobody else is going to do it for you, that’s my experience.”
For Fite, that means getting back to his regular social schedule, driving his Corvette around town, making friends and expanding his Jefferson City community everywhere he goes.
“I love life,” Fite said. “I love it, I do. I love that I’m healthy, and I’m happy, and I love every day of it.”
Shelby Kardell/News Tribune photo: A sign from James Fite’s contracting business, Twin FF Inc., sits in his garage in Jefferson City. Fite owned and operated the construction business with his twin brother.
Courtesy/Farrah Fite photo: James Fite blows out candles at his 84th birthday party held at Oscar’s Classic Diner on March 26.
Shelby Kardell/News Tribune photo: James Fite poses for a portrait next to his 2023 Corvette at his house in Jefferson City.