WHO'S YOUR DADDY?

In the PR biz, we come up with creative ways to capitalize on holidays to earn our clients press. We'll serve you the ultimate Valentine's experience with a "if-you-have-to-ask-you-can't-afford-it" price tag. We'll pamper your mom with an over-the-top Mother's Day brunch and spa treatments. And we'll create a fun and exciting way to burn off that turkey and pie after Thanksgiving (hint: it's called shopping!). And then there's Father's Day. Somehow, the guy who taught you how to ride a bike, paid your way through college and walked you down the aisle gets steaks on the grill bought, cooked and served by him. In fact, while Mother's Day holds the record for the most phone calls, Father's Day has the most collect calls. And Hallmark says it's only the fifth largest card giving holiday. Father's Day is like the Rodney Dangerfield of holidays: "No respect."

​It took four presidents to even make it a national holiday - and that didn't happen until 1972. Starting at the turn of the last century, small celebrations honoring dear-old-dads popped up around the nation as a compliment to Mother's Day, with one in Spokane, WA that drew President Woodrow Wilson who made a speech offering to make the holiday official. Congress got turned off by its commercial nature and refused to pass the bill. Eight years later, President Calvin Coolidge signed a resolution in favor of Father’s Day. Then in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed an executive order that the holiday be celebrated on the third Sunday in June. And, finally, under President Richard Nixon, Congress passed an act officially making Father’s Day a national holiday. So you've got a low bar here, people. Still, my dad taught me to love and care for animals. He instilled in me the importance of winning and losing with grace. He taught by example about grit, drive and passion. He was constantly learning and teaching. In the courtroom he was "The Shark," but at home he was just the sweet dad to two very rambunctious little girls. With his piercing blue eyes and gentle soul, he is in my heart, always. And I live every day trying to be the person he thought I was. Happy Father's Day to all the dads, stepdads, grandpas and father figures out there.