Father's Day 2011

by Diane Forrest

Today we honor and celebrate our Fathers, for without them, we wouldn't be here.  Here are some interesting facts about the origin of this day, in case you are ever on Jeopardy.  While sitting in church listening to the minister preach about Mother's Day, Sonora Dodd got to thinking about her daddy, a Civil War veteran.  He was left to care for his 6 children when his wife died during childbirth.  Wanting to have a celebration in his and all father's honor, she enlisted the help of her pastor and the YMCA of Spokane, Washington to spread the word.  She suggested the date of June 5, since that was her father's birthday, but since the ministers needed more time to prepare, the date was pushed back to the 19th.  The first Father's day was then celebrated on June 19, 1910, and Sonora went through the town in a horse drawn carriage delivering baskets to all the shut in fathers.

Sonora Dodd (Google image)

Making Father's day a national holiday was not an easy task.  It was turned down twice by Congress, fearing it would just become commercialized.  Many people saw it as the first step in filling the calendar with mindless promotions.  In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson went to Spokane to give a speech at a Father's Day celebration.  In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recommended it be recognized, but didn’t issue a proclamation.  In 1966, a proclamation was finally issued by President Lyndon Johnson, and was signed into law by President Nixon in 1972 making Father's day a national holiday to be observed the third Sunday in June.

Most dads I know don't really go for all the fanfare and hoopla surrounding Father's day, they would much rather spend the day napping on the couch, or fishing in the lake.  I have always been a "Daddy's Girl", so I like to do a little something (even with his protests) to recognize the fact that I appreciate all he has done for me through the years and continues to do.

Diane and her father

So in honor of Father's day, if you are able, give your dad a call, card, or take him out to lunch and let him know you appreciate him. 

 According to USA Parade Magazine here are some of the 10 best and worst TV dads:

Television's Top 10 Best Dads:

10.  Ward Cleaver:  Leave it to Beaver

 9.  Howard Cunningham:  Happy Days

 8.  Cliff Huxtable:  The Cosby Show

 7.  Danny Tanner:  Full House

 6.  Steve Douglas:  My Three Sons

 5.  Dan Conner:  Roseanne

 4.  Andy Taylor:  The Andy Griffith Show

 3.  Captain Stubbing:  The Love Boat

 2.  Mike Brady:  The Brady Bunch

 1.   Jim Anderson:  Father Knows Best

Television's Top 10 Worst Dads:

1.  Don Draper:  Mad Men

2.  Al Bundy:  Married with Children

3.  Joe McCoy:  Friday Night Lights

4.  Tony Soprano:  The Sopranos

5.  Frank Barone:  Everybody loves Raymond

6.  William van der Woodson:  Gossip Girl

7.  Thatcher Grey:  Grey's Anatomy

8.  Frank Costanza:  Seinfeld

9.  Dan Scott:  One Tree Hill

10.  Anthony Cooper:  Lost