Childhood Friendship with Kevin Hornych and Playing Hooky in the Woods

Finding My Best Friend in 5th Grade

• In 5th grade, Kevin Hornych became my very best friend and first true peer in my new class.
• My father, Ray Schwartz, was a self-employed blue-collar tradesman doing heating, air conditioning, appliance repair, electrical, and plumbing work. We lived modestly, shopping at second-hand stores for much of our clothing.
• Kevin's family was in even tighter economic circumstances, and our shared working-class backgrounds created an immediate, deep bond between us.

The Straight-Laced Boy and the Rebel

• Kevin was the "bad boy" rebel, while I was the straight-laced, studious kid—a classic dynamic that was endlessly entertaining.
• In our freshman year (9th grade), Kevin convinced me to play hooky from one particular class for an entire week. Instead of going to class, we snuck off into the woods during that period just to hang out and talk.
• That dynamic—a straight-and-narrow thinker pairing up with a charismatic rogue who pushed boundaries—was a precursor to my lifelong friendship with Bill Harp, who also had unusual ways of making things happen while I rode along for the adventure.