Kreevich was born in Mount Olive, Illinois. He started working in coal mines in late 1924 at the age of 16. Although short of stature (five feet and seven and a half inches tall), he developed a muscular physique while coal mining for almost five years.
Kreevich, born in Mount Olive, Illinois, started his career in coal mines late in 1924 at the age of sixteen. Despite being relatively short (five feet and seven and a half inches tall), he built considerable physical strength over almost five years working underground.