the short long version of a true success story

Larry Peek was born just two days after our son Matt was born - at the the same hospital, at Sarasota Memorial. My wife even remembers holding him while his own mother fussed with her hair & make-up, while our son fussed in his maternity crib.

Larry Peek, unknowingly next appeared years later as a student in my best buddy and elementary teacher, Michael Anderson's fifth grade class. Back then, Larry was a little whipper-snapper, a little smart-ass, but Michael took a shine to him and followed and nurtured him throughout his early and difficult family life. And, there never was a connection, until the one day this same 'Larry', ended up in my wife's 9th grade English class - toting a gym bag and appearing homeless.

Then by chance, and me, casually talking with Michael, Larry's name just happened to come up and we finally started putting some of the pieces together. And for a brief troubled period, during those high school years, Larry even came to live with us.

Next to enter his life, were our good friends Sally & Joel Elkes, who took on this now tall young man, and graciously and financially helped with much of his college needs.  All of us combined had found a scholarship for Larry, so that he could attend Howard University in Washington D.C.

As Larry moved away, and onward, Michael Anderson and our family mostly heard of his progress through Sally & Joel.  And, there were, and had been, some very hard "rocky" years.  But, with his own will and self-determination, Larry eventually went on to attend the Thomas Cooley Law School in Michigan.

Well two days ago, Sally & Joel called Sandy and I and invited us out to brunch. And, guess who surprisingly appeared?  A now grown 34 year old man, a very proud Larry Peek, who this past February had just passed his bar exams.  And, on June 19th of this year, Larry Peek will be sworn in as one of Maryland's newest attorney's-at-law.