Dads Get Their Due
Tuesday June 23, 2009 | Contributor: Jennifer Wright

The New York Sheraton Hotel and Towers was home to a timely event this week—the Father of the Year Awards. The celebration, which honors the achievements of exceptional fathers, is organized by the National Father’s Day Committee. The event is in its 68th year—impressive when we consider that Father’s Day became a holiday 99 years ago. “We are privileged to pay tribute to this outstanding group of men who exemplify the characteristics of not only great fathers but also great role models for children and parents across the country,” remarked Glen Schanen, chairman of the National Father’s Day Committee. Schanen is pictured below with former honorees, including Hulk Hogan and John Edwards (who was certainly not a candidate this year).





MSNBC Hardball’s Chris Matthews was exceptionally proud to be presenting the awards, noting that you couldn’t be a great father without great kids. He also quoted Bill Cosby, saying, “The first rich kids I met were my own.” Perhaps he’s polishing one-liners in preparation for his place on a Nantucket Film Festival panel where he’ll be discussing humor with Ben Stiller, John Hamburg and Harold Ramis.





The Father of the Year honorees included:

* Michael “Coach K” Krzyzewski, basketball coach, Duke University
* General D. H. Petraeus, commander, United States Central Command, U.S. Army
* George Stephanopoulos, ABC News journalist
* Jonathan M. Tisch, co-chairman, Loews Corporation
* Al Unser, Sr., motor sports racing legend
* Ronald Wurtzburger, president, Peerless Clothing


These fathers, leaders in their chosen field, are selected by a national committee. Each award winner gave a touching speech thanking his own father.


I had the opportunity to chat with honoree Jonathan Tisch about the changing role of fathers in America. He believes that “Obama is changing all aspects of life. I respect his understanding of the role of the father in the family and in today’s world with a lot of spouses working. Neither fathers nor mothers are more important; both are incredibly important.”





Michael “Coach K” Krzyzewski was also delighted to be there, extolling the merits of sports on early childhood development. He feels that because he has involved his kids so much in his own athletically-driven life, “They’re more outgoing; they’re unbelievably sociable and savvy as a result of being in the public eye.” He specifically praised his three daughters, who formed a great cheering section as he led Duke’s basketball team to three NCAA finals.”





This event’s recognition of the importance of fatherhood and its celebration of the honorees’ achievements were eloquent reminders for all of us to give thanks for the dads—and father figures—in our lives, not just on June 21st but every day.