FRANKLIN, Ind. – A Franklin icon beloved by many celebrated his 82nd birthday Tuesday with a community he holds near and dear to his heart.

Although he’s not the mayor or a local business owner, Jack Wood is well known throughout his city for being a kind person.

It’s one of the reasons why community members threw a gathering in his honor.

“I'm going to parties. I got four parties,” said Wood.

Wood is often seen waving to those in the community as he wanders around town or handing out candy to children. On a typical day, he can be found having coffee at the same place each morning and then he heads off to the Tapp Room at 11 a.m.

"When I say steady, every day at 11 a.m. So if in fact we don't see him, we know where he lives and so we'll be knocking on his door,” said Jason Tapp, owner of Tapp Room.

He is so admired, he even has a community-created Facebook page and a park bench named in his honor.

The Franklin Loves Jack Wood page has more than 800 likes.

"If I could be half as good as Jack, I'd be a pretty lucky man,” said Bob Shiltz, owner of Artcraft Theatre.

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