SCOTT, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A leap year only comes around once every four years, providing an extra day at the end of February— and for people born on February 29, they’re defying time as their birthdays keep them at a younger age.
Arkansan Lee Muncy is a leap day baby born in 1940, but he’s only just now turning 21. Many highly anticipate the grand age of 21, but most don’t have to wait 84 years to get to it!
“I’m 84, but oh don't I wish I was 21,” Lee joked.
Lee is a leapling, the technical term for a leap year baby. He typically must wait four years for his official birthday to come around, and when it does, the people around him work to make it a little sweeter.
“My wife is making it a pretty big deal this go around,” Lee said.
Lee considers his birthday, or birthday celebration when there’s not a February 29 to experience, as just another day— but it feels like an achievement.
“I’ve always told people I’m trying to get to 21. Now I’ve gotten there, and next, I’ll be trying to get to 22,” Lee said.
Having a leap day birthday draws in plenty of attention, and also helps close friends of Lee’s to never forget it.
“I have a good friend who lives in New Zealand, and I may not hear from him except every four years on my birthday, but I can guarantee you he will be calling,” Lee said.
That attention Lee has drawn in for the past 84 years has stuck with him throughout it all.
“The local town newspaper ran an article that I was the only four-year-old going to high school there,” Lee said with a smile.
When he had his 4th birthday, Lee was 16 at that time. Lee found his wife Peggy Muncy when he was relatively young too.
“I think he was between 13 and 14, but he seemed sort of mature for his age, so I decided to give him a chance,” Peggy joked.
Peggy has always leaned into the lightheartedness and excitement of Lee’s leap day birthday, every time it rolls around.
“We had a big party when he turned 19 and we called that one North Little Rock's oldest teenager,” Peggy said.
Happily taking the party planner hat, Peggy said leap days have helped keep her husband young.
“Most people can't believe he's 84 because he certainly doesn't look it and he does not act it either,” Peggy said.
A leap year birthday can come with its fair share of confusion when trying to figure out real birthdays and leap year birthdays. However, this year is a special one and there’s no confusion that Peggy aims to make the Big 21 one of the best yet!
“There are a lot of people coming and aware of it, plenty are coming to help him celebrate, but he just doesn't know all the details just yet,” Peggy said.
Peggy and Lee added that they’re using his 21st birthday bash as a chance to give back, with every invited guest bringing a food item to benefit the Arkansas Food Bank.
