David Kurtz was a mediocre student, but four years at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia, turned him around. Excellent instructors helped get David on a sound academic footing. His grade-point average soared—enough to get him accepted by the graduate business school at the University of Arkansas, where he met Louis ‘Gene’ Boone. Dave and Gene became longtime co-authors; together they produced over 50 books. In addition to writing, Louis and Dave were involved in various entrepreneurial ventures.

This decades-long partnership ended with Dr. Boone’s death in 2005, but Contemporary Business will always be the result of the diligent efforts of Boone and Kurtz.