Family, servicemembers and public officials gathered Wednesday to honor one of the last remaining members of the historic Tuskegee Airmen, Brigadier Gen. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse, on his 99th birthday.

“It’s really a privilege for me to be here representing the city of Quincy, to honor such a great American hero,” said Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch. “So it’s the proclamation of the city of Quincy for whereas Brigadier General Woodhouse was born on January 14th, 1927 in Roxbury, Massachusetts … and has held a life marked by extraordinary dedication, courage and service to the United States of America.”

Woodhouse — who served with the first Black aviators in the U.S. military during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen — celebrated his 99th birthday at the Victory Point restaurant in Quincy with over 30 members of his family and more friends and guests.

Betty Veneto, left, of Ginger Betty’s Bakery shares a laugh with Brig. Gen. Enoch “Woody” Woodhouse as she presents him with an oversized gingerbread man during a luncheon celebrating Woodhouse’s 99th birthday. (Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald)

Woodhouse was heralded as a icon of the nation’s history, and both Boston and Quincy declared Jan. 14 a day in his honor during the celebration Wednesday.

The legendary veteran shared much laughter with friends and spoke briefly, recognizing his wife Stella and thanking the crowd for coming out before passing the microphone to a friend.

“Our relationship goes back 30 years,” said Mike Wabrek. “I love this man. He is my brother. Whoever thought I’d have a best friend that’s 36 years my senior. You know his history started way before he enlisted in the Army, Air Corps. He was the cadet Colonel for Boston English. And it kind of started there, super smart.”

Woodhouse enlisted in the Army Corps in 1944 on his 17th birthday, at the urging of his mother. He was sent to Texas for basic training, arriving late after being told Black people weren’t allowed to ride the train in St. Louis.

After his training, Woodhouse was sent to the U.S. Army Air Corps in Utah and assigned to an all Black squadron. Woodhouse was spotted reading a book by 14th-century Italian writer Dante Alighieri — he spoke several languages — by a lieutenant, who helped him apply to become an officer.

At age 19, Woodhouse was a second lieutenant and assigned to the 332nd Fighter Group, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen. The squadron had nearly 1,000 pilots and over 14,000 other personnel. The young second lieutenant became a paymaster/finance officer.

After serving, Woodhouse graduated from Yale University, one of four African Americans out of the 984 member class of 1952. He then studied at Boston University and Yale Law School and received his JD from BU in 1955.

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The veteran went on to a wide-ranging career, teaching physics and chemistry at Roxbury Memorial High School, working as a State Department courier, serving as assistant corporation counsel for the city of Boston and working in private legal practice. In retirement, he continued to travel the country to speak at events in honor of Black veterans.

“Be it resolved that the Boston City Council extends its warmest wishes to Gen. Woody Woodhouse on his 99th birthday and expresses the deepest gratitude for his lifetime of service to our city, our commonwealth and our nation,” Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan read in the proclamation, before adding, “And just personally, this relationship and our friendship has meant so much to me.”