POTTSBORO, Texas -- If you drive Highway 289, chances are you've zipped right past Jerry Peddicord.

He served in the Navy for 33 years, retired as a captain in 1969 and moved to Pottsboro. The first problem this Navy man noticed: the city was covered in trash.

"The highways were littered," Peddicord said.

So he started picking up the trash, piece by piece.

"We live on God's earth and it's up to us to keep it clean," Peddicord said.

Over the past 43 years, this is exactly what he's done. At 97 years old, he's showing no signs of slowing down.

"I've now collected 15,000 bags of litter," Peddicord said. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's true."

His work has not gone unnoticed in Pottsboro. He now has a street and even a landmark in the middle of town named after him.

"When you turn 97 years old, you think its time to take a break and rest," Bobby Hancock, Jerry's friend and Keep Pottsboro Beautiful Commission chairman, said.

"But it's hard to get Jerry to take a back seat, he's just always serving, always volunteering."

Peddicord just helped clean up the Pottsboro welcome sign, committing to maintain it for a year as part of a new project from the Keep Pottsboro Beautiful Commission.

Bobby Hancock started this new Adopt-A-Spot project and is looking for volunteers.

"Only one person responded, and it was Jerry Peddicord," Hancock said. "So we are hoping this will encourage other people to step up and adopt a spot here in Pottsboro."

Hancock said there are opportunities like fixing up the other welcome sign and maintaining the flower beds in Friendship Park and Thompson Park.

Melanie Kelly and her husband live in Pottsboro and are helping Peddicord keep his adopted spot looking nice.

"He can show you that you can be any age to do what you need to do to make the world a little bit better of a place to live, and that's exactly what he's done," Kelley said.

"I want my legacy to be Mr. Clean," Peddicord said. "Pottsboro's got it made, all they have to do is take care of it, and that's what I'm hoping."

For more information on how to adopt a spot in Pottsboro, contact the Pottsboro City Hall or call Bobby Hancock at 903-816-4258.