Bill Franklin was “flabbergasted” this morning when he walked into McDonald’s on Snow Road in Parma.

That’s because more than a dozen of Franklin’s friends threw him a surprise party at the restaurant in honor of his 100th birthday.

The party’s location was fitting. Franklin, a longtime Parma resident, meets his friends at McDonald’s nearly every day for breakfast and coffee.

When asked how he felt when everyone yelled “Surprise!” as he walked into the restaurant, Franklin said he was “amazed” and “stunned.”

Franklin started to stroll toward the counter to order his breakfast, like he does most mornings, but this time Ronald McDonald himself guided Franklin to his customary seat. His friends brought him breakfast today.

Franklin attributed his long life to eating oatmeal every day.

“That is no lie,” Franklin said. "I had an ulcer and my doctor gave me expensive medicine for eight months and it didn’t help. I started on oatmeal and it helped immediately.”

Franklin still drives himself — in a 1980 Chevrolet — to

McDonald’s.

“It runs real good but I can’t take care of it like I used to,” Franklin said.

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