L. K. Wood: As Everyone Should - Tapa dura

L.K. Wood: As Everyone Should is the true story of a larger-than-life man who rose from penniless orphan to real estate tycoon, determined to fulfill the promise he made to his dying father: Take care of family.

Abandoned by his mother when he was only six years old, little L.K. and baby brother Dick ended up in an orphanage. But L.K. quickly ran away, worked as many jobs as he could find, and returned to begin fulfilling his promise. He retrieved his brother and set about providing for both of them and other family he’d found.

From there, L.K. lived an extraordinary life that included teaching Clark Gable how to knife-fight, flying B17 bombers over “The Hump” in WWII, serving as a spy for the OSS, building a multi-million dollar real estate business, and helping bring The Arch to St. Louis. When he was appointed Chairman of the Missouri Real Estate Commission, he put his old spy skills to work and ferreted out criminals gaming the system. He also closed loopholes and instituted reformations in industry regulation that continue to shape the world of real estate today.

But, for all his success, peace eluded L.K. Though his friendships included titans of politics and business August Busch, Mayor Al Cervantes, Governor Joe Teasdale, Vice President Hubert Humphrey, and President Richard Nixon, an anger clouded his star-studded life.

Only the love of his life – wife number six – held the key that would unlock the angry child inside and lead L.K. to a place of forgiveness toward his mother. . .and peace with his Maker.

For anyone wondering how a person can start with nothing and end with everything that matters, L.K. Wood: As Everyone Should, is a must-read.

Lowell Kenneth Wood was born on May 3, 1924 in Carlton Station, New York. In 1942 he joined the Army, where his high IQ landed him as a combat teacher preparing new recruits (including Clark Gable) for WWII. He eventually served as a radio gunner for B17 bombers, flying over “The Hump,” and as an OSS spy. L.K. then built St. Louis’ largest real estate business. He helped elect various government leaders. After “Walking Joe Teasdale” was elected Governor of Missouri, L.K. became Chairman of the Missouri Real Estate Commission. He helped reform the industry and apprehended criminals taking advantage of the system. L.K. retired with his wife Patty to Naples, Florida. L.K. went to heaven on November 22, 2013.

ROBERT J. SCUDIERI. STM, M.Div., D.Min., was born in Queens, New York. After graduating from Concordia Seminary in 1971, he served as a Lutheran pastor for 38 years as parish pastor, Mission Executive for the English District and head of new church development in North America for The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He helped start more than 1,000 churches and missions, including Center for US Missions, Transforming Churches, Open Arms (starting over 60 Christian day care centers), Lutheran Society for Missiology, Spirit of Naples film studios and Mission Nation Publishing Co. In 1991, after a sabbatical as a post-doctoral Research Fellow at Yale Divinity School, he wrote Apostolic Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Missionary. In retirement, Pr. Scudieri continues to serve on several national boards.