The Good Life

Don Ledford smiles in the reflection of his rearview mirror while driving home from the hospital after meeting his grandson for the first time in Liberty, Mo.

Don Ledford picks up his newborn grandson, Logan, for the first time. He would later say even though he knew the baby was coming, he didn’t feel like a grandfather until he held Logan.

Don Ledford's house sits on five acres in a quiet area of Excelsior Springs, Mo.

A "Life is Better with a Pug" decal is displayed on the door of the dishwasher in Don's kitchen. Without kids in the house, Don’s wife often treats their three dogs like their own children.

Don Ledford speaks to his wife Loretta before heading out for a run. Don runs most days, covering roughly 40 miles a week.

Don Ledford, center, runs with friends and fellow members of the Fishing River Running Club, including Russell Wenz, at left, and Scott Reed.

Don's shoe is seen through a long exposure while on a run. Don Ledford spends a lot of his spare time training for marathons.

Don Ledford looks through his camping gear as he prepares for a trip where he’ll hike the Colorado Trail. Every piece has been optimized for low weight in order to lighten the load of his backpack over long journeys. Recently, Don completed a 309 mile hike over 23 days across the Ozark Trail.

Don Ledford, who serves as president of the board for a local non-profit, The Good Samaritan Center, attends a board meeting with Sara Noblet, left, and Kelly Anderson. Religion and giving back to the community are important parts of Don's life.

Don Ledford reads on his porch on a quiet morning. Don is a man of routine and most days takes a moment to relax and to pray.