The Heroes in My Family: A Tribute to My Dad on Fathers Day

Growing up in a family of pretty remarkable individuals, I often felt like I was living among heroes. From my successful and admired mother to my creative and accomplished sister, I was surrounded by giants who set a high bar for success and excellence. Yet, amidst all these incredible role models, it was my dad who became my true hero. This 2024 Fathers Day, I’m so grateful for my dad and everything he has given and taught me over the years.

Following in Their Footsteps

As a late-in-life surprise to my parents (and teenage sister!), I observed success from day one. I didn’t have close-in-age siblings to compete with, play with, argue with, and share with (oof—not sure I ever learned to do that well). I just had forerunners way ahead of me who were killing it on all fronts.

I saw my sister do all the good things—high school cheerleader, “most likely to succeed,” university degree, marry a hunky guy, have two beautiful children, create a beautiful home, and establish a successful career. Mom equally set the bar high. Big sister of seven, she was the queen. She was an extraordinary second-grade teacher with a waiting list every year from mothers wanting their child to experience the best a second-grade education could offer—complete with Monarch butterfly-raising and a full old-fashioned bathtub in the classroom for a cozy reading nook. There was so much to appreciate and learn from.

My Dad: My Inseparable Hero

I’ll save the inspiration of the girl bosses in my fam for another day, but this Fathers Day, I want to share a little about how my dad helped shape who I am. Nature and nurture, I think he might have contributed the most to who I am from both angles. His creativity, intelligence, humor, curiosity, sense of adventure, and love of nature are embedded deep within me and have guided me for a lifetime

From my earliest years, my dad was my hero, and he and I were pretty inseparable. My parents wanted a boy, and when this little red-headed girl came along, I guess they just decided to pretend I was a boy anyway. With nicknames like “George” and “Booger” (!?!) and a natural tomboyish bent, I quickly rose to the occasion.

His Right-Hand Man/Girl

Growing up on a ranch meant there was always work to do. But for me, it wasn’t in the kitchen. I’m not sure I ever washed dishes (my parents didn’t have a dishwasher—still don’t to this day) and I didn’t know how to cook.

Mom pretty much shoo’d me out of the house to be with dad whenever possible.

So I went with my dad to check cows and sat on the fence while we rustled them through the chute for their shots. I learned how to grease a tractor and how to climb inside a round hay baler to clean it out. I learned to steer our flatbed truck “Old Blue” so Daddy could pick up the bales and throw them in the back (I couldn’t reach the pedals; he just put it in gear and told me to keep it straight!).

Core memory: Our pasture had a large pond on it, and I remember thinking we were going to plunge right into it—then Dad would jump in and swing the truck around to head the other direction. I’d like to say I trusted him completely, but I always thought we’d sink that truck sure as shootin.’

My dad always loved cars (he passed that car love to me and my son for sure!) and loved the challenge of finding an old fixer-upper and restoring it. I especially loved his redo of a 1969 Corvette Stingray.

Dad was a biology teacher and also taught welding and mechanics, and I loved hanging out in his shop at the high school. I remember the time he had his students make an entire car—from scratch—like form the parts from sheet metal!

I especially loved the Tom’s chips machine in his office and the Mr. Pibb and Mr. Goodbar he would bring me every day after school.

Might be where my daughter gets her Dr. Pepper obsession.

Adventures and Mishaps

Dad was my softball coach and we played catch a ton in the front yard. I remember once throwing the ball and hitting him in the head with it, and learned very quickly to be sure your throwing partner was looking when you threw it to them. I also remember missing him once and hitting the front window instead. Mom caught that one as it rolled into the living room.

Dad and I had great times doing the moonwalk across the freshly waxed kitchen floor (he was better than I was). He could also talk just like Donald Duck. I never was able to do that but believe me I tried.

Dad was a big hunter and fisherman, and I loved all things outdoor as well. I remember one morning getting all dressed up in my hunting garb and creeping outside at 5 o’clock to go duck hunting with my BB gun that only shot about 15 feet. I trekked out across the pasture with my little flashlight and heard coyotes in the woods. I thought they were sure to eat me and I was scared to death. I knew I had no chance of survival if something ran at me, being a half-mile from home in the pitch-black morning and certainly unable to outrun whatever varmint might choose to have me for breakfast. But this was a proving ground, and I wasn’t about to turn back. I found out later that my mom and dad were constantly watching the bounce of the flashlight up and down across the field as I traipsed across to the lake, took a shot, watched the ducks fly off, and headed back home, all in about 15 minutes.

Dad’s Creativity and Intelligence

I definitely benefited from my dad’s creativity a time or two. Elementary school projects were a source of pride—I won first place in every single one.

For a Texas project, we (read: my dad) made a 5-foot tall steel oil rig complete with a motor to turn the shaft. For a project on American Indians, he carved a 7-foot totem pole out of a tree we cut down (the school thought it was legit from a museum). For American History, he made a paper maché mini Mount Rushmore perfectly to scale and likeness.

It really wasn’t fair to my classmates. They hated project time with me in the room.

One of my favorite things about my dad was—and is—his brilliant mind. I don’t know anyone who is as smart as my dad. And he never let an opportunity go unturned for sharing his intelligence with me. Anytime there was a question to be asked, he had the answer. Like why the moon appears smaller as it rises and how a firefly’s tail lights up. I think he liked the fact that I liked to know and understand things. And there was never a shortage of learning opportunities.

You name it, I can do it because he showed me how. You ask it, I can answer it because he told me why. And you challenge me, and I’ll see it through, because if it can be done, we will find a way to do it.

Dad wanted to make a homemade airplane (in his 70’s). So he did. The video below him was testing it without the wings on. My mom told him he could have one tablespoon of gasoline and he could fly it as far as that would take him. 🙂

This Fathers Day—Celebrating a Legacy of Learning and Love

I love my dad for those things he gave me, taught me, and grew in me. His legacy of intelligence, creativity, and courage is something I carry with me every day. From learning practical skills to understanding complex concepts, my dad instilled in me a love for knowledge and a determination to face challenges head-on.

And not only have I benefited from that, my children have too.

I am forever grateful for the hero he has been in my life.

Happy Father’s Day, Pop!