Intelligent and humble, 101-year-old John Motes graduated from a Pike County high school on Thursday night, WSFA reported.

Administrators at Goshen High School said the senior class was more than excited to welcome Motes into the class of 2017. Motes was supposed to graduate in 1933, but a medical condition forced him to drop out during his sophomore year.

A World War II veteran, he joined the Air Force as an engineer when he was 18 years old. He lives with his wife, Bettye, in Mobile.

"He was smart as a whip," Bettye Motes told WSFA. "He just never got a chance to graduate."

Motes didn't want special treatment. Instead of him walking first, the graduation ceremony proceeded in traditional alphabetical order. He received a standing ovation from the crowd when it was his turn to accept his diploma.

The pursuit of education doesn't end here for Motes. He plans to major in music at the University of South Alabama. His next goal is to live to be 107.