A biography of the late Claude W. Ahrens, 1912-2000, Iowa entrepreneur and philanthropist who was a pioneer in the fields of agricultural and playground equipment manufacturing. As founder and owner of Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, Claude was also an instrumental advocate for the national parks and recreation field. In 1993, Claude created a private foundation (the first of others to follow) and built one of the nation's premier private parks and sports complexes in memory of his late son and late family friend, located in Iowa. Claude's motto "Leave it better than you found it" is the motto of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation today.