Paying Tribute to Dear Old Dad

Posted in Family


It's time to take a moment to honor the more than 70.1 million men in this country who are lucky enough to go by the name Dad. Father's Day was first celebrated in Spokane, Washington, on June 19, 1910, when local resident Sonora Dodd advocated a special day to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised his six children after the death of his wife.


But it took the rest of the nation several decades to follow suit. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers and designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. The holiday has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed a public law making the day a permanent holiday.

Here's a Growing Bolder salute to fathers:

Jim Henson's Legacy
It's been nearly two decades since his unexpected death. Yet his work is still fresh, powerful and provocative. But what actually happened to him? Jim Henson's daughter talks about what was and what could have been.

Tanya Tucker Pays Tribute to Her Father
When she was just a child, Tanya Tucker knew there was only one thing she'd ever want to do in life -- perform.

By 8 years old, she was singing on stages around her hometown in Texas. By 9, her father, a construction worker, asked her if this was really what she wanted to do. When she said yes, he quit and his job and moved his family to first Phoenix and then Las Vegas as he worked to make his daughter's dreams come true.

Sh*t My Dad Says
After a bad break-up, 29-year-old struggling writer Justin Halpern moved home with his parents and started tweeting all the really funny and shockingly honest things his dad says. The result was the instant phenomenon "Sh*t My Dad Says."

Discovery of a Lifetime
Joanie Schirm always knew there was more to her family history than what she had learned from her parents. When they passed away, she made a remarkable discovery in an old desk. It was a discovery that sent her on the adventure of a lifetime and caught her up in a world of survival, loss and suffering during World War II.

You Don't Know Ray
Ray Charles is one of our greatest and most beloved musicians ever, yet little is known about his personal life. Now, his son is clearing up misconceptions about his father's life and sharing intimate stories about their sometimes tumultuous life.

Redefining What Active Duty Means
At 59, he's the oldest jump master on active duty in Iraq. Col. Gallimore calls direct from one of Saddam's old palaces in Baghdad where he's an incredible inspiration to soldiers half his age. The husband, father of three and grandfather says when the secretary granted him this final waiver to head to Iraq, he showed it to his wife and promised he'd finally get around to that to-do list when he returns.

Life Lessons From Coach Bill
We see the stories all the time about youth sports coaches who lose control or erupt in profanity-laced tirades. Fortunately, most are dedicated volunteers who just want to give back. The best ones make a difference not just in a game but in a life. GB's Bill Shafer dedicates his time, talents and heart to make a difference in his son's hockey league. It's father-son bonding at its best.

The Mission is Remission
Pat Williams is a member of the Growing Bolder TV Show on-air team, and as senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic, he's one of the top executives in professional sports. He's also run 58 marathons, written more than 70 books, is the father of 19 children, and is one of America's top motivational speakers. And he has incurable cancer.

In for the Long Haul
Siphiwe Baleka is a one-of-a-kind Yale graduating, globetrotting, God-fearing, truck-driving, fast-swimming family man. And he's got a new mission -- to help long-haul truckers everywhere improve their health, fitness and quality of life.
Following in His Famous Father's Footsteps
He was born 84 days after his father, the Big Bopper, died in a plane crash with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. Now, decades later, Jay P. Richardson is reliving his father's dream and following his footsteps as the Big Bopper Jr.

Dad Hits the Road for Son
Glenn Fenster jumped on his bicycle in April and is now three-quarters of the way through a 7,000-mile bicycle ride to raise awareness about epilepsy, a disorder that afflicts his son. He says he wants to raise $200,000 by 2010 for epilepsy research. Not only does he bike to raise awareness, he's also started the "Destiny Maker" Foundation. With his son as his motivation, Fenster demonstrates the power one person has on the world.


Double Dating With Dad
Most personal ads don't lead you to an 80-year-old widow and father. But then again, most 80-year-old fathers aren't enlisting the help of their sons in their dating exploits. Author Bob Morris' dad did, and it took him on a pretty wild ride! Morris, a former New York Times columnist, shares their dating adventures in his book, "Assisted Loving: The Tales of Double Dating with My Dad." It's not only a love story, but also a story about the importance of a father-son relationship.

Old Guys Rule
Meet a surfer who just wanted to pay tribute to his still-surfing father with a bumper sticker with attitude. That little idea blossomed into a $6 million a year sportswear company.

A Song for My Father
Former teen idols Matthew and Gunnar Nelson come from one of the most famous show biz families in history. Their grandfather, Ozzie Nelson, had a No. 1 big band hit in the 1930s, their father, Ricky Nelson, had three No. 1 hits in the 1960s and they had a No. 1 hit in the '90s. Matthew and Gunnar talked to Growing Bolder about keeping their father's music alive on their album, "A Song for My Father," in which children of music legends pay tribute to their fathers.

Dad's Last Letter
Harold "Bud" Boughton knows what it takes to be a leader.  He's a former business executive, a college football coach and a father. But rather than writing your typical how-to business book, he wrote a novel about a man who learns he has 24 hours to live and sits down to say goodbye to his children.

Becoming a Father Later in Life
The man who waxed poetic as J. Peterman on Seinfeld is now channeling the thoughts of his beloved dog to help him survive his most challenging role yet -- being a new father.

A Father's Greatest Legacy: A Healthy Life
A father of four decided one day it was time to show his kids how to grow up living a healthy lifestyle. It was hard at first, but the man now known as the Tri-Boomer has never looked back.


Telling Dad's Story
A new film highlights a group of talented studio musicians that created the sound of a generation. The band, which came to be known as The Wrecking Crew, played on records for every band from the Beach Boys to the Mamas and the Papas to the Carpenters and more. For producer and director Denny Tedesco, the film is a tribute to his late father, Tommy Tedesco, who was a guitarist with the group. It took him 12 years to pull all the pieces together and he tells Growing Bolder what drove him to tell this story.

How Did Your Dad Influence You?
And finally, the Growing Bolder Thought Leaders weigh in on their fathers' influence on their lives. Check out what these role models and thinkers have to say about their dads, then tell us about your life was enhanced by your father. And do Dad a favor -- tell him how much you appreciate him.


© 2006-2012. Growing Bolder Media Group. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.