Kenny Stroup was born in St. Louis and became a Cards fan before coming to Michigan in September 1969. He now lives in Advance, Mo. (The Daily News/John Eby)

By JOHN EBY

Dowagiac Daily News

Former Dowagiac resident Kenny Stroup has published his second collection of stories about people he encounters, “Being at the Right Place at the Right Time, Again.”

Stroup, who turns 51 Sept. 20, mixes tales of uncanny encounters with celebrities — Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Benton Harbor’s Anthony Miller in front of Scotty’s when he played three-on-three street basketball in downtown Dowagiac, Lou Holtz, John Wooden — with accounts about “memorable everyday people” from his own life, such as the Nate boys, with whom he played Little League baseball in 1970-1972 at Russom Field. “I was the smallest kid playing,” he writes.

Kenny treasures the April 1991 National Geographic magazine picturing Jeff managing in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.

Stroup also writes about Tony Rushin of Missouri, “the best Pizza Hut manager in the world.”

Kenny gave him a Lone Ranger album.

Chapter four, “Treating people right can go a long ways,” tells about five responses he received writing to Barbra Streisand.

Stroup, of Advance, Mo., accompanied by his dad, Kenneth, was in town Wednesday during a visit prompted by sister Tammy Kara’s surgery Monday.

She styles hair in Benton Harbor.

Stroup, who moved to Michigan in September 1969, was born in St. Louis, as evidenced by his Redbirds cap and Cardinals jacket.

At 4, he attended his first Major League baseball game at Sportsmen’s Park.

After that, he dreamed of being a big league ballplayer, but God took his life in another direction.

Only Stroup could use a traffic ticket on Elvis Presley Boulevard as a springboard to meeting at her house actress and Sharon Tate friend Suzanna Leigh (“Paradise Hawaiian Style” with Presley, Jerry Lewis and Tony Curtis), Goddaughter of “Gone With the Wind’s” Scarlett O’Hara, Vivien Leigh.

“There’s always a rainbow after the storm,” Stroup said.

Stroup heard President Barack Obama speak in Elkhart, Ind. — his first chief executive in person.

“It’s something the Lord has put into my life to be able to do,” he said. “They’re just people. Put God first and everything else falls into place. I met the owner of the Cardinals last night before coming up here. I stopped and talked to Al (Hrabowsky, the former Cardinals pitcher).”

His first book told about Sophia Loren (he sent her a Notre Dame sweatshirt), Brigitte Bardot (he had to have her 1999 note translated from French at a college) and Mickey Rourke, Joseph Gordon Levitt of “Third Rock from the Sun” and director John Madden during the making of the 2008 movie “Killshot.”

He received a response when he wrote to actress Susan Sarandon that he made her day.

He first wrote to Loren in the summer of 1993. That Christmas he received a personal Christmas card. Kenny continued to write the Italian actress about once a week. He even got Dick Vitale to record a video message for her.

Kenny lives near Cape Girardeau, Rush Limbaugh’s hometown. Sikeston, with its restaurant famous for roll-throwing, is another point of reference.

The bachelor also lives midway between St. Louis and Memphis, where he has become acquainted with radio host and author George Klein, a boyhood friend of Presley. Kenny’s mom Melba met Elvis in the 1950s.

He’s been back in Missouri for 15 years since leaving Dowagiac.

Kenny is the second oldest of five children.

His older sister, Deanna McCain, was 46 when she died Oct. 7, 2004. The third sibling, Tim, also a hair stylist, died Jan. 31, 2009. He was 47.

Fourth in the Singing Stroup Family is Dave, the speed drummer profiled in the Daily News in November 2007. Tammy is the youngest.

His parents also live in Advance. When the Stroups moved to Michigan 41 years ago, Kenneth Sr. left two jobs — General Mills and custodian at a high school.

In Dowagiac he went to work for Rudy’s, but got hurt and was never able to work again after 1971.

“I was born Sept. 20, 1959, in Lemay, Mo. We lived 10 to 15 minutes from downtown St. Louis,” Stroup recalled in an interview last Oct. 22 at the Daily News.

“I spent 10 years of my life there. We came up here in 1969.”

“I do a lot of ministry work,” he said. “I’ve evangelized at 75 to 80 churches since I’ve been down south. I had my good times in Dowagiac, but there’s a big world out there.”

“My ministry’s important to me,” he says. “Writing’s important to me and meeting people is important to me.”

In Dowagiac, Stroup operated a used car business for five years, from 1983-1988.

He also worked for Ameriwood when it was Jessco, for Georgie Boy and did odd jobs.

At this point in his life, Stroup feels as though he’s reached a destination in his ministry for God.

“I’ve found my place,” he said. “I pray on things and ask God to direct me every day of my life.”