For some people, a new year means making resolutions that may mark a new beginning.

But for 102-year-old Harold Dudek, after having lived through more than a century of new years, the coming of 2015 is just another year in a very long life.

Dudek said his secret boils down to two things: hard work and honesty.

“I’ve always worked hard on everything I did,” he said. “It made me strong.”

Recently, Dudek and four others were interviewed in an Aegis Living online video titled “500 Years of Life (Five Centenarians Look Forward to New Year).” One of the questions the seniors were asked was, “If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?” Dudek’s reply was “to eliminate wars.”

FROM 1912 TO 2015

During the course of his century-long life, the Aegis of Redmond resident has seen the world go from wagons to automobiles and personally went from riding a horse to school to owning his first car, a 1922 Ford Model T.

Dudek was born in northwest Missouri on July 20, 1912. He and his family stayed in the Show-Me State until he was about 2 years old and then they moved to Colorado.

“The most beautiful state in the world,” he said, describing the state where he spent his formative years. “It has everything.”

Dudek’s family — which included his parents, two older sisters and an older brother — lived in La Junta, Colo. and he stayed until he was about 20 years old.

Dudek said his oldest sister was like a second mother as she helped take care of him after their mother had a stroke and lost the use of one side of her body. He added that since his mother was only able to carry him on one side of her body when he was younger, he in turn became left-handed because that was his free side and he would reach for things using that hand. Dudek said with a laugh that his southpaw status helped him win a number of fights he got into with neighborhood kids because most of them were right-handed and his left uppercut was usually unexpected.

Thinking back on his childhood, Dudek describes Colorado as a place where the air was clearer and moonlight nights were brighter. He said he had good parents who taught him much.

Dudek’s mother taught him how to live and love people, while his father taught him more mechanical things such as how to build and repair things.

“That gave me a good start in life,” he said.

In addition, the lessons Dudek learned from his father laid the foundation for him to pursue mechanical engineering.

Dudek got married when he was 21. His wife was 18 and they eloped in order to get away from her abusive stepfather, he said. After they wed, the couple moved to Eugene, Ore.

“I decided I didn’t want to freeze to death,” Dudek said, referring to Colorado’s cold winters.

Dudek said it was in Eugene that his daughter and son were born.

LIFE AT AEGIS

After a lifetime spent in various states throughout the country, Dudek has been at Aegis of Redmond for two years.

General manager Bryan Bourgeois said having Dudek at the senior living community has been fantastic. He described the older man as a vocal, intriguing gentleman who is polite and courteous.

“He’s very thoughtful,” Bourgeois said, “very kind…He’s a proud member of our community.” He said Dudek also likes to share stories from his life with others.

In the video, the seniors were also asked how they made it to 100 and beyond.

While hard work and honesty may have been Dudek’s response, there is another, more tangible thing: a glass of scotch each day to help thin his blood.

Bourgeois said at 4 p.m. each day, Dudek drinks a doctor-prescribed glass of scotch.

“He calls it happy hour,” Bourgeois said with a laugh. “It’s great.”