In this July 13, 2011 photo, Richard Smith poses for …

Pat Sullivan | published: July 21, 2011

In this July 13, 2011 photo, Richard Smith poses for a photo with his dog Willie at his home in Vidor, Texas. Smith, who has multiple sclerosis and knee and ankle problems, once struggled to walk to his mailbox. Now, he walks three to four miles a day. He's dropped 40 pounds in two years, and his blood pressure and cholesterol have lowered.(AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)