FROM 1 to 100: Dare Seniors Shine in Mr. Beast Challenge
by JoJo Tilley / Images courtesy of youtube.com/@MrBeast / Photo Above: Chuck Hester and Carol Dillon, in front of Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse in Manteo in an impromptu photo shoot by Three Little Birds’ Photography, Beth Cunningham.
Chuck Hester is no ordinary 100-year-old. Coastal Life established this a few editions ago (Summer 2025), when we celebrated his centennial birthday with a commemorative photoshoot and interview, but Mr. Hester has since been busy with even more thrilling adventures.
A few months back, Mr. Hester competed in one of Mr. Beast’s 1-100 Challenges; a viral trend in which Mr. Beast (aka Jimmy Donaldson) makes 100 people of each numbered age to participate in athletic challenges. Mr. Hester, at 100 years old, was the oldest competing individual there! Every person had to run or roll as fast as possible to the finish line, where the first five out of the decade’s grouping would advance onto the next round. Even though Chuck was eliminated in the first round, he and his son insisted that they’d already won when they got there.
“Just being present and selected, him qualifying to be there at all, he still won,” his son, Radcliffe, proclaimed. “Meeting all of the neat people aged 1 through 99 was as much of a gift, too.”
Mr. Hester competed alongside 96-year-old Carol Dillon, a Buxton native who had also been chosen for the competition. As the owner of the Outer Banks Motel, she had also taken time out of her busy life to compete. The both of them made an excellent team as they connected with cast and crewmembers alike, giving life advice to the younger contestants and those who advanced onto the next round. Radcliffe, his son, noted that being around other athletic people his age gave Mr. Hester a much-needed energy boost. The contestants gave him the nickname “Chuck 100”—not only for his impressive age, but his fantastic attitude and outlook.
The hardcore athletics weren’t the only thing that Mr. Hester was dealing with, though. Since filming for the challenge took place over the winter, the winds blowing during the challenge were full-force—two days after a snowstorm. Greenville is no joke in the wintertime, and Mr. Hester braved it for three days before he and his son flew home.
“He and I both agree that he wouldn’t do it again,” Radcliffe laughs. “It was a great experience, but he was missing home too much. He’d rather play Jenga and mow grass, you know?”
With summer in full swing, Mr. Hester will have his hands full with outdoor activities more suited to his tastes, especially when it comes to his commercial 60-inch Z-turn lawnmower. Regardless, Mr. Hester has made history again, and we’re proud to call him one of our locals.
Author: Jojo M. Tilley
