As Don Moore sat in David Carter’s office one day and surveyed the mementos Carter had collected throughout his career, the idea for Moore’s book “You Can Get There from Here,” a story about Carter’s life, was born.

“(Those things) tell a great story—you can get there from here,” said Moore.

A Flatwoods, Kentucky, native who was raised by a single mother and was told by his math teacher that he wasn’t “college material,” David E. Carter achieved success as a businessman, advertiser, author and Telly Awards founder.

He went on to claim CLIO Awards for his work along with several Emmy Awards

For Moore, an electronic media professor at Ohio University Southern and author of the biography, it was important that people know Carter’s story.

“I wanted young people to know that just because you’re from Appalachia doesn’t mean that you can’t be successful. That’s why I wanted to tell the Dave Carter story,” said Moore.

During a book signing Thursday at Ohio University Southern, Moore talked about the book and the story of Carter with whom he collaborated to write the book.

“(The book’s) a story of a young man who grew up in Flatwoods, Kentucky. They didn’t have a lot,” said Moore. “He was just an average student.”

However, Carter went on to pursue degrees from the University of Kentucky, Ohio University and attended the Harvard School of Business.

“He became the math man at Harvard School of Business,” said Moore.

Now retired, Carter, who has published books about media, spends time helping electronic media students at OUS and gave the university a computer lab.

“He’s always available for my students,” said Moore. “I appreciate all he’s meant to my program here at the university.”

Answering questions via Skype during the book signing, Carter spoke about his career and gave the audience advice on how to achieve the success they want.

“I’m writing and producing documentaries now,” said Carter. “I knew I was going to be a writer at age 15.”

Whenever he has the opportunity, Carter advises OUS electronic media students about their future careers.

“I think it is my obligation to pay it forward,” said Carter. “I support OU in any way possible.”

Carmeleeta Stewart, OUS library worker has known Carter since he was 17.

“It is a true success story,” said Stewart. “It basically tells it like it happens.

It is great.”