Wearing a Pacers shirt, Lorene Steele was all smiles as former player Darnell Hillman paid her a surprise visit on her 100th birthday.

Steele, a resident of Northwoods Village, celebrated the century mark Monday surrounded by friends and family.

Steele grew up in Missouri and moved to Kokomo 19 years ago when her son, Kenneth, was transferred through his job with Chrysler. Her daughter, Donna Rauls, continues to reside in Missouri.

Hillman’s visit was arranged through the “Never Too Late” organization.

Hillman, known as “Dr. Dunk” during his playing days was a member of the Indiana Pacers team during the American Basketball Association days in the early 1970s and played on two championship teams.

“I’ll try to make this one as painless as possible,” Hillman told Steele of her 100th birthday celebration. “This is very special for me. I’m always glad to meet our fans.”

Hillman came loaded with a large bag filled with Pacers-related gifts for Steele. The gifts included a Pacers monkey, T-shirt, neck wrap, photo album, umbrella, socks, team gnome and wall clock.

Since her favorite Pacers player is Tyler Hansbrough, who grew up in Missouri, Hillman gave Steele a shirt with Hansbrough’s name and number on it.

Hillman said Hansbrough has made a significant impact on the team and the fans enjoy watching him play.

“He gives 100 percent when he’s on the court,” he said of the North Carolina graduate.

The final gift was a large Pacers blanket.

“I really want to thank you for being a fan,” he said.

Hillman explained that for the past 10 years he has worked as director of camps for the Pacers and enjoys traveling around the state.

He said this was the fifth or sixth person in Indiana that he has met who was celebrating their 100th birthday.

Kenneth Steele said his father passed away 61 years ago and his mother never remarried. She worked as a clerk at F.W. Woolworth’s to support her family.

“I always loved basketball,” Lorene Steele said.

Her son noted that his mother would always yell at the officials when he was competing at the high school level and they all knew her by name.

She was a fan of the St. Louis Hawks and remains a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I didn’t think I would reach it,” Steele said of turning 100.

Steele said her secret was to always behave herself. She never smoked but admitted to drinking a beer once in a while.

“I like Indiana,” she said. “It’s a lot like Missouri.”

Steele said she has witnessed a lot of changes in 100 years and mentioned electricity and indoor plumbing at the top of the list.

Last weekend, Steele returned to Missouri with her son to celebrate her birthday with family members.

She has five grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. A prized possession is a Cardinals shirt with pictures of her children and grandchildren on it with the slogan “starting line-up.”

Ken de la Bastide is the Kokomo Tribune enterprise editor. He can be reached at 765-454-8580 or via e-mail at  ken.delabastide@kokomotribune.com