Persistent 81-year-old Hutchinson man earns his GED

80-year-old Hutchinson man inspires by striving for his GED

An 80-year-old Hutchinson man is earning the title "lifelong learner" by inching his way toward getting his GED and inspiring teachers and fellow students along the way. Sam Flom thought he knew everything school could teach him by the tenth grade, so he dropped out and joined the workforce.

HUTCHINSON, Minn. (FOX 9) - Persistence has paid off for an 81-year-old Hutchinson man who earned his GED on Friday.

FOX 9 introduced you to Sam Flom last year as he continued his quest to pass the high school equivalency exam. Last week, after 27 months and 950 hours in the classroom, he earned his diploma.

Flom dropped out of school in tenth grade to join the workforce. After time in construction, in the Army, as a janitor, and a gambling manager, he had one regret: never getting his diploma.

In 2021, he started the process to earn his GED. When FOX 9 spoke with him last year, he had passed tests in science and social studies, but he kept falling just short of passing the math and reading tests.

Flom is now set to graduate in May. He told FOX 9 he had goals beyond getting his GED, including taking a computer class and possibly volunteering at the school.