Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1952 to a father that worked in the steel mill and a grandfather that had earlier driven mules in the local Dunlo, Pennsylvania, coal mine, Ken became familiar with the hard work ethic. However, this came later after a number of “wait till your dad comes home” talks.
As a coin has two sides, there were also two parents wanting the best for their son. Mom Helen drove him to Baltimore, Maryland, on two-lane, some mountainous roads to see Dr. Harriet Guild. Dad, Joe, through teaching competition, collecting fern fossils, and having adventures like trudging through snow and rhododendrons to the top of the mountain, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania., hunting deer, was also medicine. Thankfully, both were found to be right.
His three sisters Pat, Lois, and Louise were also important. Having sacrificed much, they showed their trust by allowing him to take their new Mercury Montego into Georgetown to visit a college professor during holiday break.
From Dunlo Elementary, Forest Hills High School, Mt. Aloysius Jr. College, and, last, St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Ken took his interest in children, teaching, and art. His small bedroom at home was covered in drawings. Most drawings were of animals from photos and drawings from Pennsylvania Game News Magazine.
Ken’s first teaching position was fifth grade at St Bernard’s in Hastings, Pennsylvania, where after two days he introduced himself to his now wife of thirty-eight years Pris. After two years they moved to Bull Creek, West Virginia, where they rented from Jr. and Geneva Hatfield. Geneva would always place something special, on the top of the car, for them to eat on their way back to Pennsylvania for the holidays. Once back in Pennsylvania, Ken would spend much of his time with his father-in-law, Ed Kammer, working on jewelry projects or rock hounding. Other Rock Hound trips were made to Mich with his buddy Jim Hird.
