Happy birthday to Gottlieb pinball designer Wayne Neyens, who reached the respectable age of 101 years old today!
To read all about Wayne's most interesting career in pinball, including his 180 pinball designs and much more, check out Pinball Magazine No. 5.
www.pinball-magazine.com/shop/
PM05 cover (small) (resized).jpgWow, what a living legend!! Happy Birthday to Mr. Neyens! Someone go read him some Pinside birthday comments!
In addition to my original post: I talked to Wayne about an hour ago. He's still in decent shape, although he started walking with a cane for better balance. He's still living on his own, still driving his car, doing his own shopping, cooking his own meals. Today, he had about 12 people come over for lunch to celebrate his birthday. He also received about a dozen phone calls and a bunch of postcards from people wishing him a happy birthday.
Wow. May we all be so lucky just to make it as far as Wayne has, not to mention such an illustrious career!
Happy Birthday to a gentleman who has entertained us with his pinball designs before, since, and after we were kids and into our adult lives. Thanks for all the decades of fun Wayne. 
I had the pleasure of wishing him a very Happy Birthday on the phone. He is still as vibrant as ever.
As part of his 100th celebration, the Pacific Pinball Museum presented him with a trophy of sorts with three score reels mounted on it.
On his hundredth birthday, they incremented the reels from 99 to 100. When I visited Wayne earlier this year after TPF, he let me know that as soon as he turned 101, he would be incrementing it again.
As we finished up the conversation yesterday, I jokingly asked if he was going to increment that counter. He said, "that was the first thing I did this morning!"
Happy Birthday, Wayne!
Happy Birthday Wayne! Reading your story in Pinball Magazine is inspiring. Your life's work has brought happiness and joy to millions of pinball players-- including me. Best Wishes to you for a great 101st year!
When one man is part of pinball history as you, Sir, this man is forever a young heart.
Congratulations Mr.Neyens, I give such a big hug to you, you are The Pinball Man and I salute your birthday.
I did enjoy so much reading about your history in Pinball Magazine.
101 is the coolest age number, by the way!
You saw passing by the XX century, and you made millions of people play your pinball tables.
That's amazing.
You, Pinball Wizard, shine on.
Ciao
Happy Birthday Wayne! If you could make it to expo this Oct I would love to meet you.
Thank you for all you've done for pinball!!
I just wished Wayne a Happy 102nd Birthday!
Wayne is still doing very well, and at 102 is still living by himself at home.
He is very pleased to have hit this milestone. I asked, "so what's next?" He responded, "103, of course!"
Wayne is a treasure and I feel so fortunate that we have gotten to know him through Coin-Op Carnival.
Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:Wow, what a living legend!! Happy Birthday to Mr. Neyens! Someone go read him some Pinside birthday comments!
Amazing, already another year!
Happy 102nd birthday to Wayne!
How awesome that this pinball legend lives to celebrate his 102nd birthday. Congratulations to him!
unigroove Thank you for taking the time to create the issue of Pinball Magazine containing the eleborate interview with mister Neyens. It's what I currently read before I go to sleep and I think it's legendary. It gives amazing insights. Not only into the life of a pinball designer, but also into Gottlieb's history and pinball history in general. A very valuable document for our hobby.
It's been another year and Wayne Neyens is still with us, celebrating his 103rd birthday today (July 29). Happy birthday Wayne! I talked to Wayne last night and he still sounds very fresh, especially for a 103-year-old. I hope he's having a wnderful birthday.
Quoted from unigroove:It's been another year and Wayne Neyens is still with us, celebrating his 103rd birthday today (July 29).
Amazing! We could all be so lucky to have had a wonderful career doing something we love and continue to be connected and thought of so well. What a great designer and long lasting contributor to the industry and the hobby we all love! Happy birthday Wayne!
Happy Birthday to Wayne! One of the nicest people I've ever met, and an amazing designer and engineer.
-Edit- I spoke with him a few moments ago and let him know that many people were wishing him Happy Birthday over the Internet. He is celebrating today with a close group of family and friends and is incrementing (from 102 to 103) the trophy presented to him on his 100th birthday by the PPM (it had three score reels that they clicked from 99 to 100 when they presented it to him).
For that age he looks like a teenager! The guy must be like a walking pinball history book. I only have two EMs left but one is my '53 Poker Face which I love playing. Happy Birthday Wayne Neyens!
Quoted from Isochronic_Frost:Amazing, already another year!
Happy 102nd birthday to Wayne!
Extra Ball! 103 how great!! Happy birthday to Wayne, and congrats on his youthfulness! The man is doing better than many people in their 60s and 70s!!!
Quoted from ReadyPO:Amazing! We could all be so lucky to have had a wonderful career doing something we love and continue to be connected and thought of so well. What a great designer and long lasting contributor to the industry and the hobby we all love! Happy birthday Wayne!
He' really doing Hi Score! Long live.
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