Back in December of last year, we met up with a local businessman with a really cool story to share.

Pat Hicks, longtime Lake Highlands resident, is the owner of New Life Hardwood Floors.

We enjoyed learning about the company and its mission - and sharing it with our readers.

Pat even offered up an end-of-year LH Today Deal of the Week.

You can read about it here.

Pat's in the business of preserving some really old wood, working to harvest it from buildings that are being demolished all across the country.

Late last year he told us about the trends he's witnessing in his industry.

The turn in the economy, coupled with the continued growth in the green movement, has people embracing the practices of recycling, upcycling and rethinking their use of resources in general.

For New Life Hardwood Floors, it's meant that people are even more eager to learn about what Pat does.

So we were excited to see Pat getting some good press over the weekend.

The Dallas Morning News featured Pat and his company in an article in the Guide section last Saturday. Take a look here.

Seems a good story gets around, and we love it!

Pat and his wife, Sherry, who works in the public relations office at Highlander School, have called Lake Highlands home for over 20 years.

Sherry's a Lake Highlands grad, who attended Wallace Elementary, and together they're now raising their two children in a spot we like to call the ABC streets.

Pat jokes about having no time for hobbies. "Are you kidding? We have kids!"

But one thing he takes very seriously is his passion for saving historic wood from the landfills.

With a background in social work, and a degree in Sociology and Psychology, reclaiming historic wood might seem a little off the beaten path, right?

But there's actually a parallel there - if you look closely.

"The reality is that quality never goes out of style, and this old wood possesses character, beauty and quality only found in forests that simply no longer exist and are gone forever."

Passion for history and making use of the old gifts the Earth has offered. Pat's definitely making a difference - and we're glad he's doing it in Lake Highlands!

To learn more or contact Pat, visit http://www.newlifehardwoodfloors.com.