A birthday party planned for Elmer “Bub” Alsup was always going to be special.
His family had gathered, friends filled the room, and a surprise visit from a beloved mascot was on the agenda. But the biggest surprise came when a Kentucky Wesleyan Panther mascot removed its head and revealed Alsup’s son, Scott, whom he had not seen in nearly a decade.
The emotional reunion was the centerpiece of a celebration honoring Alsup’s 90th birthday and a life defined by hard work, military service, family, and community involvement.
“I was surprised,” Alsup said moments after the reveal. “Overwhelmed, really. That surprised me. I didn’t know nothing about it.”
Scott Alsup traveled from Germany, where he has lived since leaving the military, to surprise his father. The trip had been in the works for more than a year and a half.
“I hadn’t been home in eight years,” Scott said. “I was like, for a 90th birthday, I have to be there.”
The reunion was orchestrated by Alsup’s daughter, Rosita Sheldon, who worked with family members and Kentucky Wesleyan College officials to create a memorable day.
“My brother from Germany is coming,” Sheldon said before the surprise was unveiled. “Nobody in the family knows at all.”
Scott initially hoped to surprise his father with Kentucky Wesleyan season tickets, but the plan grew after family connections led to conversations with the college’s athletic department.
Kentucky Wesleyan assistant men’s basketball coach Travis Owsley agreed to help.
“From what I hear, he’s a huge Kentucky Wesleyan men’s basketball fan and women’s basketball fan,” Owsley said. “Anything we can do to give back to those fans and celebrate them, that’s what we’re about.”
Owsley arrived dressed as the school’s Panther mascot and presented Alsup with season tickets before revealing Scott’s identity.
“When my dad had tears in his eyes, it got everything I wanted,” Scott said. “I’m so happy right now. I can’t even express my feelings.”
The surprise carried additional meaning because Scott’s family in Germany watched the reunion live online.
Scott moved to Germany after serving in the military. Stationed there for more than six years, he met his wife and eventually decided to remain overseas after leaving active duty.
“We’ve been together since 1988,” he said.
The reunion was especially meaningful during a difficult season for the family. One of Alsup’s children died just weeks before the birthday celebration.
Still, the gathering highlighted the size and closeness of the family Alsup built over nine decades. He is the father of eight children and has more than 20 grandchildren and more than 20 great-grandchildren.
At 90, Alsup remains remarkably active.
“I worked hard all my life,” he said when asked about the secret to longevity.
He retired after 34 years with Lateral Welding and later spent 13 years with Rite Aid. Today, he still works four days a week at O’Reilly Auto Parts.
His son said that work ethic continues to inspire the entire family.
“He’s 90 and still working almost full time,” Scott said. “He keeps going. He’s a good inspiration for us all.”
Military service is another bond shared between father and son.
Alsup served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Essex, while Scott served in the military before settling in Germany.
“He’s a veteran, and I’m a veteran, and it just makes us close,” Scott said.
When he isn’t working, Alsup stays busy attending Kentucky Wesleyan sporting events and dancing on weekends with his longtime companion, Helen.
The couple became avid Panther fans after the death of Alsup’s wife 14 years ago, regularly attending basketball, baseball, and other athletic events.
Those connections helped make the birthday celebration even more meaningful.
For Owsley, honoring longtime supporters like Alsup reflects the tradition that has long been part of Kentucky Wesleyan athletics.
“When I think about tradition, that doesn’t happen without our amazing fans,” Owsley said.
As family members hugged, laughed, and shared memories throughout the afternoon, Alsup remained grateful for the effort that went into organizing the surprise.
“I appreciate her,” he said of Sheldon. “She takes care of all my good stuff.”
For a man who has spent nine decades working, serving, raising a family, and supporting his community, the celebration offered a fitting reminder of the lives he has touched along the way.
