Interesting...
Non-reuse from gov’t website & non-uniqueness from computerworld article (industry)...
(see Q20)
http://www.ssa.gov/history/hfaq.html
http://blogs.computerworld.com/node/5969
Q5 on the SSA link could perhaps explain why he received a SS# so late in life. Most likely a federal employee that was exempt from system for most of life. ????