Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir must retire at age 60 or after 20 years of service, whichever comes first. This policy was set in place in 1974 by former music director Jerold Ottley. Before 1974, there was no clear policy on retirement from the Choir.
An article in the Deseret News on August 31, 1901, tells the story of George Triplit, who, at 85-years-old, may have been the oldest member of the Choir ever.
According to the article, Triplit was born in 1816 in Davenport, Devonshire, England. He had always been fond of music and would frequently play music at the various churches in his town. He became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1849 and arrived in Utah in 1868.