Lawrence "Doc" DeCosta Bodden was born in 1920 on the 
Corn Islands, a pair of tropical islands 50 miles off 
the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.  He has lived there 
his whole life, running a coconut business he inherited 
from his father.  In his 76 years, Doc has fathered 16 
children, with five different women.  We sat down with 
Doc, Melvin, his oldest son of 51 years, and Scherile, 
his youngest daughter of 4 years.

Sixteen kids - that's a lot!

"Yeah, possibly around 16 that.  The oldest, he's 50 already gone.  The youngest, 
she's about four years."

Can you name all your kids for me?

"I couldn't be able to give you all the names, only some.  The wives, I can give 
you that group of names."

You were 72 when your youngest daughter was born.  Who is the mother?

"She's about 27 years, lives next door, right around the corner from here.  
She's the fifth mother."

She's 27 - and you know it's your child?

"I was on the ship, but I'm not sure if it was my cargo.  But I raise her like 
she was mine."

How involved were you in the raising of your kids?

"Everyone of them.  Pretty much all of them have been in 
school.  They've all had more schoolin' that I got."

How many of your kids are still alive?

"Three have died.  Most of the other rest it alive.  Only 
one of the mothers is still alive."

Was it your goal to have so many kids?

"Was nothing like that.  No tablets, nothing like that.  
In those days there wasn't so much to be scared of 
because the sickness wasn't circulatin' around.  
Those were wild days."

That's incredible.  And at 72 to still have a kid - What's your secret?

"Well, I wouldn't know.  You have to get acquainted with the ladies to know that.  Like 
everything else, you go with these ladies and hope for the best, so regular... Those 
were wild days.  The most you use is wine, with a little milk sometimes..."

Melvin, Doc's oldest son offers:  "In his time, he always had some of the best horses 
on the island.  Always had some great horses, horses that won a lot of races.  It's 
like having a motorcycle with a really big motor these days."

"I guess it's just some luck sometimes.  You try to meet one and start an acquaintance.  
I guess it's just how you go about.  And maybe some financial trouble with the lady, 
you know how it be like that."