Jimmy Carter to celebrate 96th birthday quietly on Thursday

President Jimmy Carter turns 96 years old today, marking another milestone as the longest-living former U.S. president.

He and his wife, Rosalynn, have sequestered themselves in their home in Plains during the coronavirus pandemic, so the annual birthday party that the town throws is out.

A Carter spokesperson said the couple will spend a quiet day together.

Here’s a short list of those who have reason to celebrate his birth.

• Metro Atlantans who enjoy the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. It was put under protection during his presidency.

Art major Mark Verlander, of Kennesaw State University, enjoyed a relaxing and warm afternoon in 2018 painting on the banks of Sope Creek in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area near Atlanta.

• Canoeists and fishermen: While Carter was governor, the Chattooga River was named a National Wild and Scenic River. He also vetoed legislation that would have dammed the Flint River at Sprewell Bluff.
• Lovers of undeveloped Georgia beaches. Carter played roles in preserving both Cumberland and Ossawbaw islands.
• Thousands of families living in Habitat for Humanity houses. The Carters have given their time and lent their celebrity to the Atlanta-based nonprofit for decades.
• Millions of people in Africa and the Mideast. When the Carter Center started working toward the eradication of Guinea worm disease in 1986, 3.5 million people had it. Last year, only 54 did.