Danny Paul Ainsworth was born on September 19, 1944, in Sherman, Texas, to Howard Paul and Hazel Lena (Smith) Ainsworth. He had one biological son, Jerry Paul, and a daughter, Beth, from a previous marriage. Upon his marriage to his soulmate Jewel, he acquired a son, Sam, and two daughters, Sarah and Susan. Dan is grandfather of Lauren and Jordan, and great-grandfather of Asher and Avery.

Dan’s faith ran deep. He went to Church every Sunday. His mom played the piano and both his parents sang in the choir. He loved getting his hands dirty and being behind the wheel of anything that moved. 

In 1973, Dan moved to Denver, Colorado, and started driving a truck for his uncle. He met the love of his life, Jewel, while employed by Coors Transportation in 1977. North Park Transportation was next, first as a driver and then as a manager. 
After being “released” by North Park, Dan started Lone Star Freightlines. He reconnected with Jewel in 1995 and they were married in March of 1997. Lone Star ran until 1998, when Dan and Jewel moved to the mountains northwest of Cañon City, Colorado.  

While building their home in the Autumn Creek subdivision, Water on the Spot was born. Soon followed helping to create the Tallahassee Volunteer Fire Department. Meanwhile the road maintenance and cistern installation began as Tallahassee Trucking. Dan was instrumental in defeating the “art” project Over the River. The volunteers of Rags over the Arkansas River, ROAR, contributed hundreds of hours winning over Christo.

Dan and Jewel moved into Cañon City in 2016, where they retired.  He wrote his autobiography “The Life and Times of a Texas Farm Boy,” on a computer, which was an ordeal for Jewel as well.

“Getting old is not for sissies” was his motto in later years. It was probably the hardest thing he ever did.