Urbandale, Iowa

Iowa Homes for Heroes, a nonprofit founded by executives of West Des Moines-based R&R Realty Group, presented a newly built four-bedroom home in Urbandale to Navy veteran Johnny Mellor and his family on October 8. Mellor, a former aviation structural mechanic, left the Navy after 16 years when a shipboard accident ended his career. The home, built by KRM Homes, includes accessibility features such as grab bars, built-in tub seating, lowered countertops, and a step-free entry.

Mellor is the second recipient of a home from the nonprofit, which launched in 2025 and previously gave a house to veteran Clint Graham. The organization, which works with the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs to identify candidates based on financial need and sacrifice in the line of duty, is also remodeling a home in Marshalltown for Arianna Howard, a Gold Star spouse. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds attended the presentation and said the state does not fund the nonprofit but hopes it can expand with support from other organizations and builders willing to take on construction costs.