Ken Still told me he's had a wonderful life.

"I've been blessed," the retired Professional Golf Association (PGA) and Senior PGA Tour golfer said as we sat in a comfortable dining room at the Fircrest Golf Club last Saturday morning.

"I've had a lucky life," added the Tacoma native.

A warm, generous and charming man with a knack for telling stories with a message and remembering almost every number he sees, Still's life personifies love, not luck.

Make no mistake, since he turned professional in 1953, Still played the links to the best of his self-taught abilities.

His talents won him three major tournaments on the tour - the Florida Citrus Open Invitational, the Greater Milwaukee Open and the Kaiser International Open Invitational.

The highlight of Still's career was playing on the 1969 Ryder Cup team.  He earned his spot the final week before the event.  Needing a top-three finish in the Milwaukee Open, Still won by two shots over Gary Player to take a spot on the team from Arnold Palmer.

Talk about beating a couple of legends.

At this time, Still's friendship with another master of the links - Jack Nicklaus - grew.

In 1985, Still started to play on the Senior PGA Tour and did so until the late 1990s.

"Everything was good, really good," Still said as we sipped our mochas, a wonderful mixture of hot chocolate and coffee.

Then Pepper Roberts, founder of the Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course, called in 2001 and asked Still if he would help out the organization.

Initially Still demurred and said he was too busy.  But Roberts persisted and eventually talked Still into a visit. "Thirty seconds after I had been there at American Lake, I was hooked," he said.  "You see these Soldiers with no arms, no legs, no hands - how can you not jump in?"

Still paused for a moment, took a drink, and then added, "working with the wounded has been the most satisfying thing I've done."

Talk about a 350-yard drive down the fairway of the heart.

"And what I notice the most about them is that they are always smiling," Still added.

Still quickly made his personality and presence felt at the American Lake course and soon began to serve on its board of directors.

Service led to action.

In 2008, more than 25,000 veterans, family members and caregivers used the nine-hole course.  Realizing the need to expand - to make those who have served and given of themselves feel wanted and whole - Still called Nicklaus.

"I called his private number, and fifteen seconds later he said, ‘Count me in,'" Still related.

Good to his word, Nicklaus offered to donate plans for a second nine holes and became one of the Friends supporters.

In honor of Still's work, the Fircrest City Council proclaimed Feb. 12 as "Ken Still Day" and named him Fircrest's Goodwill Ambassador to the 2015 U.S. Open, which will be held at the Chambers Bay golf course in University Place.

The recognition of Still, the work he does and the life he has lived is not about luck.

It's about love.