Brandon Twp. – In the Leap Year of 1960, John F. Kennedy proclaimed ‘the Cuban missile gap,? would be the focus of his presidential campaign, Chicago’s Hugh Heffner splashed a grand opening of the Playboy Club and Goodrich, Mich. boasted of identical twins Larry and Garry Ashby of Brandon Township born at Weelock Hospital.
The multiple, Leap Year birth came as a surprise to parents Survetus and Jereldine Ashby, since the only set of twins on either side of the family, were distant cousins of Jereldine’s.
The odds of having identical twins are one in 285 and there are no records available reflecting the odds of having identical (monozygotic) twins on Leap Year day.
‘I found out I was having twins about three weeks before their birth,? said Jereldine. ‘At first the doctor said he could hear three heartbeats, but an x-ray showed only two babies.?
‘I told the doctor, twins were OK as long as they are not born on Leap Year day,? she chuckled.
On Feb. 29, 1960 the twins barley gave her enough time to make it to the hospital before they were born.
‘My husband was down at the neighbors watching a television show,? Jereldine said. ‘By the time he got me, we barely made it.?
As a teen, Jereldine moved to Michigan from Missouri and married Survetus, stating all she ever wanted was to get married and have a family.
The pair settled in Brandon Township on an 80 acre farm with their oldest son, James. Over the next several years the Ashby’s family grew to include Betty (Poli), Jerry, and finally the twins in 1960.
‘My oldest graduated the year the twins were born,? Jereldine said.
‘They sure were fun when they were growing up.?
Larry, the eldest of the two, teases that he has ‘sibling bossing rights? because he is five minutes older than his little brother, Garry.
In 1979 Larry and Garry graduated from Brandon High School and immediately got jobs at the Perry Warehouse in Waterford.
They worked 17 years for owner Jack Robison until Perry’s sold and they became employed at Sam’s Warehouse seven years ago.
‘We would be able to retire soon if Perry’s didn’t close,? Larry said.
So close that they often speak in unison and complete each other’s sentences, both men work every day together.
‘When one is sick the other stays home with him,? said Jereldine, explaining that their employers are very understanding and flexible with the pair.
The dining room walls where they live, with their mother, are lined with employee awards recognizing their loyal dedication from both Perry’s and Sam’s.
While the twins do celebrate their yearly birthday on Feb. 28, their Leap Year birthdays are the most memorable because they actually celebrate on the 29th.
Their favorite was Leap Year 1988 when their mother rented a limousine for their 28th birthday. The duo were treated to a full-day ride, touring every place they wanted to go from Brandon to Detroit.
When the ride was done Larry and Garry were met at home by family members and friends who put on a big birthday party at the house.
This year the 44-year Brandon Township resident flash playful smiles behind their grey tinged beards and proudly announce that on Feb. 29, they turned 11-years old, but will not get the kids discount price at the movies, they tease.
Larry and Garry made plans to spend the special birthday with the person they both call their best friend.
They will celebrate their 11th, going to church and then out to dinner with their mother.