Sounds like him. He was so open and so available. I wonder if his huuuuuge tome (the Underground History) made it through my purge of my books 3 years ago. I’d like to think I kept that one.
Went on the spur of the moment to hear him speak once - Albany - maybe 2005 or 2006. My wife and I got there late, but we stayed a little while after and watched his interaction with the people who crowded around.
He gave absolutely his whole attention to each individual or group who had anything at all to say or to ask, and never once shifted off or cut anyone short. Each person (or group / pair) got his full and complete attention and engagement until they were satisfied and ended the interaction - this despite the fact he had an early morning flight cross country.
I was floored. I have never seen anything like it from any even marginally popular public figure. Absolutely giving.
I had wanted to simply thank him for his book (The Underground History of American Education mentioned by others here) but we gave up and left before the crowd thinned.
Took us some time to find a local hotel that night, and we were just going into our room, down the hall and around the corner from the lobby, when I recognized his voice at the desk. I couldn't resist. Went back to the lobby and shook his hand, told him I enjoyed the talk and the book, online and in print, and that he has many more students than he knows.
A good man whose influence will continue.
If anyone has interest, some audio and text files of some talks are archived at this URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20080517100546/http://www.altruists.org/413. I recommend "The Neglected Genius Of American Spirituality."