Mississippi Family Man Unearths Resilient Comeback with the Help of a Bobcat Compact Excavator

Published on March 1, 2022

It saved me. I love everything about my excavator. Not only did I purchase a quality product, but I got my quality of life back.

Ronny Delaughter

Ronny Delaughter attends therapy every day in his own back yard. But instead of a traditional therapy session, he’s sitting in the seat of his Bobcat® E50 compact excavator he’s affectionately named “Brutus.”   

For several years, Ronny was ill, struggling with a myriad of physical and mental health challenges. His health was destroying his future. Against all odds, Ronny found positivity, happiness, and a higher quality of life thanks to the help of his Bobcat excavator. 

Planting the seed

Ronny Delaughter uses his Bobcat® E50 compact excavator every day to prepare for future projects.

For most of Ronny Delaughter’s adult life, he has been a provider and hard worker, says his daughter, Abby. Ronny and his wife, Kelly, have been married 38 years and have raised a family of three children. He began his career in logging, owning a company and managing a crew for six years. Later, he went on to become a semi-trailer driver where he devoted 18 years of service.  

Ronny’s quality of life took a turn when his health started declining a few years ago. “I couldn’t do much about it,” says Ronny. “I had both of my knees replaced and was struggling with liver failure. When my surgeries were completed, they estimated I wouldn’t make it past two years.”  

Hospitalized for a month and a half, he was struggling to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Combating depression and recovering from his knee surgeries all while battling weight gain and increased anxiety was proving to be overwhelming for Ronny.  

“One weekend they called me from the hospital and told me he wasn’t going to make it,” says Abby. “His quality of life was bad. He stayed inside most of the time. It wasn’t until he made his big purchase that things started looking up.”  

Growing roots 

The Delaughters knew they had to help change Ronny’s lifestyle if he had any hope of living a fulfilled life again. That’s when the idea began to take root.  

“I needed to find my purpose. I started thinking about my past experiences working in the logging industry, and realized I wanted to get out into nature again,” says Ronny. “I saw the benefits of buying my own equipment rather than renting. An excavator seemed like the perfect fit for me.”   

While shopping for an excavator, Ronny brought his son-in-law along to help test out the equipment.  

“After my son-in-law said the Bobcat excavator was the strongest thing he’s ever operated in his life, I knew I had to have it,” says Ronny. “Shortly after I bought it, I named it Brutus. To me, the name conveys strength and persistence.” 

The Delaughter family standing proud with their father, Ronny Delaughter.

Ronny has become very prideful of his Bobcat excavator. “I always go outside and kiss Brutus in the morning, even before I wake up my wife,” he admits.  

To begin a long list of projects, Ronny started by cleaning up his 40-acre property. Ridding the front yard of its broken-down brick columns was his first task. Next, he removed the old bushes and plants from the yard using his bucket attachment.  

“Most of the time, I’m just out there having fun,” says Ronny. “I love running the machine.”  Using his excavator, Ronny formed a dozen acres of trails for his grandchildren to explore.  

Ronny also lends a hand in his community. During times of disastrous hurricane weather, he helps the community by clearing away debris from roads using his excavator.  

Cultivating a legacy

With a little digging, Ronny is a new man. After losing 100 pounds, he is healthy and continuing to make an excellent recovery. “I still have my routine MRIs and CAT scans every three to six months,” says Ronny. “But in the meantime, I am back doing what I love: spending time outside in the woods. 

Abby accredits her father’s health to the projects Ronny completes with the help of his excavator. She claims the excavator gives him the opportunity to get outside and be active while completing projects, fulfilling a purpose for him.  

“His time working outside has enabled him to get healthy and be independent,” says Abby. “He has overcome so much. The doctors didn’t give us much hope for a future, but I wouldn’t have ever imagined that he would be where he is today. I’m proud of him.”  

Ronny has big plans for the future, including growing a tree farm that he can pass on to his kids.

Ronny’s journey is just beginning. Looking toward the future, Ronny has dreams of planting a tree farm. In partnership with the forestry commission, Ronny is working to grow pine trees with the potential of starting his own logging business. He hopes to begin a legacy he can leave for his family. 

“Once I clear out the oak trees, I will have pastureland ready for planting,” says Ronny. He has big plans for his tree farm. Afterall, legacies aren’t built overnight. “The sooner I start planting, the better,” he says.  

In the future, Ronny would like to invest in a root grapple and tilt grading bucket attachment for his excavator. He even has his eyes on a Bobcat skid-steer loader.  

“To me, I owe my life to my excavator,” says Ronny. “It saved me. I love everything about my excavator. Not only did I purchase a quality product, but I got my quality of life back.” 

More Recent Stories

View All Stories
The Bobcat Brand Evolution Bobcat PG40 Portable Generator Against a White Background

The Bobcat Brand Evolution

Discover the Bobcat Brand evolution of our product equipment lineup expansion with portable power, industrial air, forklifts, and turf renovation to accomplish more.
Jessie Hamilton Breaks Stereotypes with Bobcat Equipment Jessie Hamilton Speaks With a Co-Worker From the Cab of a Bobcat E60 Compact Excavator

Jessie Hamilton Breaks Stereotypes with Bobcat Equipment

Jessie Hamilton, a heavy equipment operator for Schutte Excavating operates Bobcat equipment with unmatched expertise and finesse. She would have never taken hold of the controls if she’d accepted the status quo.
Josh Duhamel Creates Food Plot for Hunting with Bobcat Equipment Josh Duhamel Talks With his Neighbor Don About Hunting Deer Next to His Bobcat UV34 Utility Vehicle

Josh Duhamel Creates Food Plot for Hunting with Bobcat Equipment

Experience the vision and dream Josh Duhamel had to create a food plot for hunting land on his lake property with Bobcat equipment and follow his hunting adventures.
Restoring Family Roots: Robert Lazenby Reclaims a Legacy Robert Lazenby stands in front of his Bobcat UV34XL utility vehicle on his historic family farm.

Restoring Family Roots: Robert Lazenby Reclaims a Legacy

Find out how Robert Lazenby used Bobcat equipment, including his Bobcat mini track loader, compact excavator and compact track loader and utility vehicle, to restore his long-neglected family farm.
Triple T Excavating Soars on Solar with Bobcat Fleet Brandon Trimborn with his family on site at Triple T Excavating

Triple T Excavating Soars on Solar with Bobcat Fleet

Experience Triple T Excavating’s triumph over adversity using cutting-edge technology and a determination fueled by family with their Bobcat equipment fleet.
Tree Business Branches Out with Help from Bobcat Equipment A Bobcat loader and excavator work to removed downed trees.

Tree Business Branches Out with Help from Bobcat Equipment

Discover how Chad Benton the owner of East TN Tree Service Inc., literally started his business by hand, no machines and now has a fleet of Bobcat equipment.
U.S. Veterans and Bobcat Leaders at Pheasant Bonanza Four Pheasant Bonanza participants pose with the day’s harvest.

U.S. Veterans and Bobcat Leaders at Pheasant Bonanza

Discover how Bobcat teamed up with veteran organizations and Pheasant Bonanza Hunting Club to provide these heroes with an adventure and fellowship outdoors.
Celebrating 65 Years of Groundbreakers at CONEXPO 2023  Bobcat Booth Featuring Platinum Series T86 Compact Track Loader

Celebrating 65 Years of Groundbreakers at CONEXPO 2023

Bobcat unleashed 65 years of groundbreaking ingenuity and empowerment by unveiling the brand’s newest equipment, innovations and digital solutions at CONEXPO 2023.
40+ Years of Success with Family Values & Bobcat Equipment A Lewis Straus Construction crew member operates a Bobcat mini track loader at an indoor jobsite.

40+ Years of Success with Family Values & Bobcat Equipment

Discover how Lewis Straus Construction has successfully thrived for almost 40 years with Bobcat’s innovative equipment, excellent service and industry expertise.
Josh Duhamel Builds Legacy at Lake with Bobcat Equipment Josh Duhamel standing in the forest, gazing off into the distance.

Josh Duhamel Builds Legacy at Lake with Bobcat Equipment

Josh Duhamel is carving a legacy in the Minnesota lake wilderness with Bobcat Equipment, by building a family getaway for the generations to enjoy after him.

What’s Your Bobcat Story?

Taking on big, ambitious challenges is what being One Tough Animal® is all about. Tell us how Bobcat empowers or inspires you to accomplish more. Whether it’s at work, at play or in life, share your story with us.

Share Your Story