Growing up during the Great Depression, Kenneth Shadrick moved with his family to Wyoming, West Virginia, then to an outlying town called Skin Fork, 20 miles (32 km) away, as his father was looking for coal mining jobs.
Tumbuh dewasa selama periode Depresi Besar, Kenneth Shadrick pindah bersama keluarganya ke Wyoming, Virginia Barat, lalu ke sebuah kota terpencil bernama Skin Fork, sejauh 20 mil (32 km), karena ayahnya mencari pekerjaan di penambangan batu bara.