ARGONIA, Kan. (KSNW) -- A man from Argonia defied the odds and overcame homelessness during The Great Depression. Today, he is living his perfect life at 95, showing you are never too old to accomplish a goal. Billy Joe Holden was born in Byron, Oklahoma, in 1929. His mother died when he was 6 years old, and his family split up. "At that time, of course, people had it very hard during the depression," Billy's son, Randy Joe Holden, said. "They were very poor, they lived on a farm, but it was very difficult circumstances. So Dad, as soon as he got old enough, said, 'I'm gonna have to be on my own anyway.' So he pretty much just took off." Kansas college gives rural schools an opportunity to experience robotics up close Billy Joe worked on a farm and became homeless as a young teenager. "It was a real experience for a young kid," Billy Joe said. "I really wouldn't recommend that sort of a life for anybody." He enlisted in the military before he turned 16. "I went down to sign up for the draft," Billy Joe said. "'Cause I was only 14, I had to sign up to be like I was 18. I got to the recruitment office, and they signed me up for the Marine Corps, sent me to Kansas City, I passed the physicals and the test, and they put me on a troop train to California." Billy Joe says he made up a birthday that made him 18 and ended up serving about two years in the Marine Corps. "When I got through, I hadn't reached my 18th birthday yet," Billy Joe said. "They already gave me an honorable discharge from the US Marine Corps." Then, he bounced around to different jobs trying to make a better life for himself. He taught himself math so he could get a position at Boeing. Randy says although his dad wasn't well educated, he was smart and learned everything the hard way. He ended up working at Boeing for about 30 years. "It gives us a lot of respect for him because none of us grew up under those circumstances," Randy said. "He learned so many things the hard way and he defines himself as not a regular person because most people have no idea what it's like to grow up and walk a mile in his shoes. We learned so much from him." Randy says his dad always dreamed of the home he lives in now, and he earned it. Local Boy Scouts honor veterans during Wreaths Across America "He saved a lot of his money," Randy said. "We lived very frugally growing up. He had this vision from an early age. He wanted a place like this. He knew he'd have to save his money, so he saved enough to buy land out here. He actually retired when he was only about 52, and we've just been working hard out here ever since. When he got this place, it was like going to heaven because we dreamed of a place, and we couldn't believe that somehow he got all this land, all these trees, and his own private stretch of river. We just ran around when we first came out here. We were just so overjoyed. It wasn't just him realizing his dream, he did it for us, and he considers this his legacy for his kids, grandkids." Billy Joe's motto has always been, "First we work, then we play." It is on his gravestone where he will be buried someday. The Marine Corps gave him a home when he needed one and got him on track to be where he is today at 95 years old. He received the diploma through the state's Operation Recognition program. It gives eligible veterans who did not graduate the chance to get their diploma. The American Legion post 136 Mulvane brought the diploma out to him at his home. If you would like to nominate a person or business for Positive Connections, fill out KSN’s online contact form.