ELKHART - The differences between this father and son are as distinct as water and steel - as clearly defined as blood on a white sheet.

Dad stands well over 6 feet, Son is 5-7, with the stocky build of a bull rider.

Dad has eyes of Caribbean Sea blue, Son's are as deep brown as the bays, thoroughbreds and chestnuts he saddles up for fun.

Son is a little bit country, Dad is a little bit rock and roll.

Son loves the Cleveland Indians, Dad is Cubbies all the way.

As different as they are, father and son were of one accord late last week when a 20-year wrong was righted.

"I'm pretty nervous," said Ken Pollock Jr., standing in the Elkhart train station.

For Pollock, 49, Friday morning was the culmination of a two-decade search that would bring his long-lost son back into his life.

The rural Warsaw resident and Pierceton native hadn't seen his son, Ken Pollock III, since the younger Pollock was 19 months old and was taken by his mother from their home in Nappanee.

Several weeks ago, a call was made.

"He called me up, and I just about died," said the proud father minutes after watching his son step off the train. "It was the best thing that happened to me in 20 years."

According the older Pollock, a truck driver who graduated from Pierceton High School, Ken Pollock III was taken to his mother's Ohio hometown in 1978.

"I am bitter about that, but you can't hold that bitterness for your whole life," the father said while reacquainting himself with his son on the ride from the train station to his mobile home near Chapman Lake.

"I thought ... I didn't know if I'd ever see him again," said the younger Pollock, who is attending Kent State University.

Ken III said his mother recently asked if he'd be interested in contacting his father. He immediately said "Yes."

"When I called him up," said the son, "I said, 'Is this Ken Pollock?' He said, 'No this is Gary.' I said, 'Well, tell him his son called.' That's when he said, 'Kenny, this is your father speaking.' "

Ken Jr. said his initial reaction was based on past experience with telemarketers and other telephone annoyances.

After the initial contact, the father and son immediately made plans to meet. Ken Jr. sent his son a train ticket and the two met and spent last weekend together.

On the ride back from the train station, they discussed their differences and similarities - and lots of baseball.

"I missed teaching him," said the father. "I missed playing ball with him."

"Yeah, Mom said you played a mean third base," came the response.

"I would have taught you how to play the hot corner. If (your) mom and I had stayed together, (you) would have been one helluva baseball player."

The two are similar in their patriotism. Ken Jr. served in Viet Nam, and Ken III is a member of the Ohio National Guard.

Ken Jr. took his son to meet his mother, Ken III's grandmother, Eleanor. Also playing host to the newly reinstated member of the family was Ken Jr.'s wife, Freda. Ken Jr. and Freda have been married six years and have three children from Freda's previous marriage and two grandchildren.

The elder Pollock said today his weekend was a memorable one.

"It was great," he said. "We had a wonderful time."

And he got a chance to bond with his son in an arena of sports.

"We played golf," he said. "He had a hard time hitting that little ball, but I think he had fun anyway." [[In-content Ad]]