~ Gary & Janet Heavin

You recently wanted to know who or what had influenced my Carnival collecting. I would have to say that the beginning of my knowledge in carnival glass began when I started attending HOACGA.

I had collected and known about the glass since my childhood. That being said, I began a love affair with it in approximately 1957, being awestruck with its beauty and an appreciation
for the intricate patterns that it had.

I would have to say that my first "mentor" would have been Tom Mordini, ( the Dean of the University), along with Charlie Kmucha, a ringman for Mickey Reichel's auctions. These guys blew my mind with their knowledge and how articulate they were in what they looked for in glass. Then' you combine that with such great collectors as John Muehlbauer and John Rogers, Gary Lickver (whom is at the top of understanding on what to look for in iridescence), Judy Maxwell (a wonderful collector), certainly Bob Grissom (such a statesman and tremendous appreciation for the hobby), and so many that it would be impossible to list them all.

I would be amiss if I did not say that Tom Mordini, in my opinion, has had the biggest influence in the carnival glass world, and has done more to help create the great collections.

Even now, I am still learning from great collectors, for example, people like Rick Kojas, who has so much experience, knowledge, and history of the rarities. So, as you see, the learning never stops. It only gets richer.

So this is my story, and I am sticking to it.

~ Gary Heavin