Since the 1930s, a quirky sign hanging inside a historic oyster house in Mobile, Ala., promised something unusual: free oysters to any man who turned 80 and walked in with his father. It sounded almost impossible, and for decades it was…….until now. Jimmy Rush (above left), who recently celebrated his 80th birthday, walked into Wintzell’s Oyster House with his 99-year-old father, making them the first pair to finally cash in on the long-standing promise. The moment was especially meaningful to the Rush family, as visiting the oyster house has been a family tradition stretching back more than 50 years. Jimmy went on to explain that he and his dad, Jim, would ride in the Mardi Gras parade on Friday nights. “So we would come down here on Friday afternoon and eat oysters,” he said. That tradition started in 1972, and over the years it has been their goal to take advantage of the promise on the sign. When Jimmy finally reached the milestone birthday, the family checked with the restaurant to see if anyone had ever beaten them to it. The answer was no. The special occasion turned into a big celebration. About 60 family members and friends gathered to mark Jimmy’s 80th birthday and to watch the restaurant make good on its promise with a dozen free oysters. For Jimmy, it was a milestone he had been looking forward to for a very specific reason. “Never thought about any birthdays except my 80th,” he said. “That’s the one I was looking forward to — because of the sign.”
