PORT TOWNSEND – William Blaurock’s face, beaming under its red mortarboard, showed signs of more experience than those of his fellow Port Townsend High School graduates at Friday night’s ceremony.

In fact, he had 56 years on most of the other red-and white-robed honorees who received diplomas at McCurdy Pavilion at Fort Worden State Park before a large audience.

But Blaurock was set apart from the other 117 graduates in way besides his age.

He hadn’t known he would be in the graduation ceremony until about two hours before it began at 7 p.m.

“It was a complete surprise,” said the 74-year-old Kent resident.

“It brought tears to my eyes.”

As a Port Townsend High School junior in 1949, Blaurock joined the Navy Reserves.

In June 1951, he – lacking a single music credit – did not receive his high school diploma and went straight to boot camp, anticipating deployment to Korea.

He never did leave the continent and spent four years stationed at Pier 91 in Seattle.

He earned the credit he was missing, but never got his diploma.