Lake Havasu Veteran Celebrates The Century Mark

By Becky Maxedon

Judd Lotts celebrated his 100^th birthday at Vista Point at Lake Havasu City Friday.

The U.S. Navy veteran said, “I never thought I’d live this long. I hadn’t planned on it.

“They say the first 100 years are the hardest. It will be easy from now on,” Lotts said.

Lotts enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1942 and came home in 1945. “I was home for Christmas,” he said. He served on a submarine chaser. A submarine chaser is a type of small naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare.

Mayor Cal Sheehy congratulates Judd Lott on his 100th birthday. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Executive director of Vista Point at Lake Havasu City Stephanie Rohn told RiverScene Magazine that the celebration included the presentation of a proclamation by Lake Havasu Mayor Cal Sheehy.

“We had Quilts of Valor come and present him with a quilt. We had Veterans Last Ride come present him with a certificate and some gifts. The Legion Riders also came and all of us wished him a happy birthday,” she said.

Family members said Watts has several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Rob Malgieri, Lotts’ stepson said, “I’ve known him about 40 years, so not the whole 100. He was married to my mom before she passed away a few years ago.”

Malgieri said the Lotts lived in Ojai, Calif., before moving to Prescott and finally to Lake Havasu City where his daughter and son-in-law live.

Watts was a woodworking craftsman and artist.

“All of his work was sold and displayed in art galleries. He created these incredible, amazing jewelry boxes. He used multiple wood and had very unique methods of incorporating the insets and handles.

“We have end table made by him and a coffee table he made.”

Malgieri said he was featured often in museums and art galleries.

“It was artwork what he did. Truly amazing,” Malgieri said.