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Last year the West Seattle Herald covered (Calvin) Cal Bannon's birthday at Kenyon Hall. Of course, he was only 90 years old back then, and hard to interview as he seemed to dance non-stop with every gal at the party, but especially Flora Belle Key, barely an octogenarian.

Bannon, a West Seattle High School Class of '39 graduate from the Lowman Beach neighborhood, was at it again, the Energizer Bunny, continuing to dance with a full head of steam. He was celebrating his birthday, (which is Feb. 15) at the Senior Center of West Seattle's Sadie Hawkins Dance Wednesday, Feb. 1. Singer and ivory tickler Lauren Petrie performed, as he did at Bannon's 90th. The ever-popular Petrie is best known in these parts for his performances at the former Corner Inn. A surprise guest performer, West Seattle architect Bret Wiggins teamed up with Petrie.

As we reported, on Jan. 14 Wiggins won the 15th Annual Elvis Invitationals and became "The King"- Seattle's Best Amateur Elvis with "Suspicious Minds" held at the EMP Museum. At the Senior Center, as Elvis, he performed "Hawaiian Wedding Song", "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Can't Help Falling in Love". He also sang "Sweet Caroline" as Neil Diamond.

Also dancing up a storm was birthday girl Betty Bartol, with partner Al, her husband of 63 years. They have lived in West Seattle since 1950. Another party guest, Clyde Bernhagen, celebrates his birthday is next week. The evening was sponsored by Senior Center regular, and film expert, Terry Holm of White Center.

Paul Thompson attended to show his support to Bannon, his neighbor, former Scoutmaster, golf partner, and current tennis buddy. Thompson, in his mid-50's, is a DJ, and has been with STAR 101.5 for 25 years.

"Cal quit playing golf about three years ago," said Thompson. "He told me it wasn't 'aerobic enough'. Cal is as spry as they come. He's amazing. If we could all be 91 and in his shape, that would be great."

Bannon is somewhat hard of hearing.

"I dont know if he can hear the music, but he can dance on and on," Thompson quipped.

"We play tennis with a group at the Lincoln Park tennis courts," Thompson said. "Cal sweeps the courts and trims trees that hang over the court. I learn skiing from Cal. He ran the Mountaineers Club at Snoqualmie Pass with about four others from City Light. He taught so many kids how to ski. He took us on these amazing 50 mile hikes, one every summer. I went on about five, over the Olympics and Cascades. He's impacted a lot of young people's lives in West Seattle."

Bannon continues to travel, and will go with Flora Belle Key to Mesa, Arizona this March, then to Isla Navidad, Mexico, their annual hot spots.

"We're looking for a train trip down to San Diego," Bannon said. "That's kind of fun. We took one a couple of years ago from Vancouver, B.C. to Boston. Flora Belle said, 'They're dancing out on the platform'. So we joined in. They had music and dancing waiting for us until the train was ready.

"During WWII when I was training in the Air Force, stationed in Missouri, we took 'navigation flights' to Chicago and Milwaukee and danced there all night, then flew back in the morning," he recalled with a wry smile.

"I flew C-47's over the Himalayas into Tibet from northern Burma. I could see Mt. Everest on a clear day from above our base in Tibet. Those poor old airplanes could only fly 20,000 feet. The highest I went was 15,000. On one flight I carried 10 Chinese troops an two horses. The horses did just fine, but the Chinese soldiers got sick as dogs."