During his century living on the South Beach, John O’Hagen has served his country, his community, and his fellow cranberry growers.

on Friday, O’Hagen, who resides in Markham, turned 100.

Born in Ocosta, he graduated from Ocosta High School in 1938. After graduation, he left the area for a few years to study in Seattle at a technical school, working for Boeing and attending the University of Washington.

O’Hagen enlisted in the Naval Reserve. He served in the Pacific during World War II from May 1941 to November 1945. As a battle helmsman toward the end of his tour, he earned the nickname “Zig-Zag” O’Hagen.

John bought his first cranberry bog in 1946. A few years later, he married, raised a family and added more bogs.

O’Hagen was an early member of Cranberry Canners Inc., which would evolve into the Ocean Spray Cranberries Cooperative Association of Growers. He also served on the board of the Grayland Water District.

When he was raising his kids and they were attending his alma mater, he became unsatisfied with the cirriculum and was elected to the Ocosta School Board, where he served for 13 years before retiring in 1985.