July 4th baby B.J. Authemont turns 100 years old

By Brian D. Wilson Santa Paula TimesAs near as anyone can tell, Burleigh Authemont, better known as B.J., was born on July 4, 1908. His birth records were destroyed in a fire at the courthouse in his birthplace, Galveston, Texas. He was born to Laura and Gracin Authemont. His mother, who was French Canadian, died in childbirth. His father was Irish.He attended school in Galveston until he was 16, when he had to go to work. After having a job delivering packages and working in a cotton gin, B.J. worked as a merchant seaman for six years and traveled all over the world. After that he worked for about 13 years as a heavy equipment operator in shipyards.B.J. married his first wife at the age of 19. They had two daughters, and divorced seven years later. Shortly thereafter he was notified to report for a physical for the service. He was exempted because of his job at the shipyard.He married his second wife, Ethel in 1953. She had two boys, Robert and Ronnie. The family soon relocated to San Diego, where he worked as a crane operator for nine years. They moved to La Conchita after the boys finished high school. The boys went in the service. Robert was sent to Germany, and Ronnie to Vietnam. Ronnie, who had been subjected to Agent Orange in Vietnam, died of cancer. Robert lives with his wife and son in Long Beach.B.J. and Ethel sold their La Conchita home in the early 70s and moved to upper Ojai, where they lived for 33 years. B.J. retired in 1974. He started his own gardening business, and they took in foster children. He also started volunteering with Help of Ojai, driving people to doctor’s appointments and delivering Meals on Wheels.