San Bernardino, CA - Worldwide Marriage Encounter, the original faith based marriage enrichment program in the United States, announces the winner of the Longest Married Couple Project to be Marshall and Winnie Kuykendall of Lordsburg, NM.  They will be married 82 years on Feb. 14, 2011. 
 
"What a privilege and honor it is to recognize the Kuykendalls for their commitment to marriage," said Scott and Karen Seaborn, the United States Ecclesial Team for WWME. "We look forward to personally recognizing them on Feb. 12th in their hometown of Lordsburg," they added.  The Seaborns serve with Fr. Tom Griffith, SVD, as the U.S. leadership for the marriage enrichment movement.
 
The Kuykendalls were married Feb. 14, 1929.  Originally from Arizona they eloped to get married five months after meeting each other.  
 
The New Mexico couple achieved the honor of being the Longest Married Couple based on the over 300 nominations submitted to Worldwide Marriage Encounter beginning in October of last year.  It should be noted that a couple from North Carolina who are married longer (86 years) were also nominated, but they and their family graciously chose to pass the honor onto the Kuykendalls.  
 
Worldwide Marriage Encounter undertook the project to highlight marriage in America and to show young couples that marriage really can go the distance.  "What an inspiration Mr. & Mrs. Kuykendall are to all of us.  They made a commitment to each other 82 years ago and they have kept that commitment over these many years.  They truly are a sign of hope to us all," the Seaborns said.
 
The New Mexico winners have a daughter who is married 56 years, and two grandchildren.
 
The presentation of gifts and acknowledgements to the Kuykendalls will be made at noon Feb. 12th at the Hampton Inn in Lordsburg.  
 
The individual state winners will also receive special certificates of achievement and other gifts from the Worldwide Marriage Encounter movement over the Valentine's weekend.  The state winners will also be presented their certificates and recognitions by Worldwide Marriage Encounter couples.  
 
"The number of years many of these couples are married is just awesome," explained Scott and Karen Seaborn, the United States Leadership Team for WWME.  The Seaborns serve with Fr. Tom Griffith, SVD, as the U.S. Ecclesial Team.
 
"There were 312 nominations from all 50 states," the Seaborns explained, adding, "There were three couples married 80 years or longer nominated, along with 100 couples married 70 to 79 years and 155 couples married 60 to 69 years.  What a testament to having a commitment to a long marriage!"