{"id":10870,"date":"2015-06-19T11:30:12","date_gmt":"2015-06-19T15:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=10870"},"modified":"2024-05-03T11:07:43","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T15:07:43","slug":"fathers-day-father-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/fathers-day-father-of-the-year.html","title":{"rendered":"Father\u2019s Day & Father of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction<\/em><\/strong>: In this article, Gena Philibert-Ortega writes about the origins of Father\u2019s Day as a national holiday, and the special honor \u201cFather of the Year.\u201d Gena is a genealogist and author of the book \u201cFrom the Family Kitchen.\u201d
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

What are your plans this Sunday for Father\u2019s Day? You might be surprised to learn that Father\u2019s Day is actually a fairly recent holiday. Although a celebration of fathers was held on 19 June 1910 in Spokane, Washington, it wasn\u2019t until President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972 that the third Sunday of June was permanently set aside as Father\u2019s Day, a national holiday.<\/p>\n

Sonora Smart Dodd Starts Movement to Honor Fathers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The idea for Father\u2019s Day is credited to Sonora Smart Dodd who, after listening to a Mother\u2019s Day sermon at church, believed that her father William Jackson Smart \u2013 a Civil War veteran and young widower who raised 6 children \u2013 should also be honored.<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, Ohio), 25 May 1911, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She encouraged Spokane churches to set aside a Sunday sermon in honor of Father\u2019s Day. They did that in June 1910 and preached about the importance of fathers. The movement grew from there and was discussed in newspapers across the country.<\/p>\n

\"Movement<\/a>
Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, Arizona), 14 June 1910, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the idea for Father\u2019s Day took off, others joined the effort to make a permanent national holiday honoring dads. The Father\u2019s Day Council was established in 1931 by concerned citizens and leaders who wanted to help achieve the \u201cuniversal observance\u201d of a Father\u2019s Day holiday. Later it was renamed the Father\u2019s Day\/Mother\u2019s Day Council.<\/p>\n

Father of the Year<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1942 the Father\u2019s Day Committee was established, whose \u201csole purpose was to confer Father of the Year honors on leaders of society.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Father\u2019s Day Committee set about choosing \u201clifestyle leaders\u201d each year for their honorees. Starting in 1942 a select few dads were honored with the title Father of the Year. So who are some of the winners of this honor?<\/p>\n

Probably not surprisingly considering that World War II was happening, the first honoree was General Douglas MacArthur. One of the fathers awarded the next year, 1943, was another general: Dwight D. Eisenhower.<\/p>\n

\"General<\/a>
Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, California), 16 June 1943, page 22<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Eisenhower was bestowed the honor of number one father \u201cbecause of the brilliant victory of the United Nations forces, because of their stirring example in fortitude, because of their value to the cause for which we are fighting \u2013 the protection of our homes and our liberty \u2013 and because of your sterling qualities of leadership and inspiration to the youth of today and all future generals.\u201d At the time of this award Eisenhower and his wife Mamie had a son, John D. Eisenhower, who was a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy.<\/p>\n

Through the years, all kinds of celebrities and famous men were given the honor of the nation\u2019s #1 father. Presidents, movie stars, soldiers, ministers, athletes, musicians, and lawyers were honored. The title of Father of the Year was given to several men each year, all representing different walks of life. In 1960 Pat Boone was named Television Father of the Year, with additional awards going to Robert F. Kennedy, Charlton Heston, John Unitas (quarterback for the NFL\u2019s Baltimore Colts) and Art Linkletter.<\/p>\n

\"Pat<\/a>
Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield, Illinois), 11 June 1960, page 31<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every year the Father of the Year charity luncheon is held in the nominees\u2019 honor. This year\u2019s honorees include President George W. Bush, Morris Goldfarb and Ashok Sani.<\/p>\n

Step Away from That Tie!<\/strong><\/p>\n

While your dad may never be officially named Father of the Year, he\u2019s probably number one in your life. Father\u2019s Day is a great way to show him how much you care, but let\u2019s face it \u2013 dads probably get the short end of the stick when it comes to gifts. Even before there was an official holiday, retailers were coming up with ideas about what to get dad for his special day. In this 1919 advertisement for the John Bressmer Company, gift-giving suggestions include a humidor and an Edison phonograph \u2013 but it wasn\u2019t too long before ties were the suggested gift.<\/p>\n

\"Sunday,<\/a>
Daily Illinois State Journal (Springfield, Illinois), 29 May 1919, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Probably the real problem with finding a special gift for dad is that moms are just easier to shop for. After all, moms are more associated with sentimental gifts. As this 1930 Mississippi newspaper article points out:<\/p>\n

\"article<\/a>
Daily Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), 11 June 1930, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It would seem that gifting a tie has a long tradition.<\/p>\n

That same newspaper article provided two poems for Father\u2019s Day:<\/p>\n

\"poem<\/a>
Daily Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), 11 June 1930, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"poem<\/a>
Daily Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi), 11 June 1930, page 5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spend some time making family memories with your dad. Honor those dads who have passed by writing and sharing their stories. Happy Father\u2019s Day!<\/p>\n

Related Article:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n