The Dad Who Did It All

When you hear Father’s Day mentioned, images of backyard barbecues, handmade cards, and

perhaps a new tie or two might come to mind. Behind the sizzling grills and heartfelt tributes, however, lies a surprisingly modern and determined tale about how this now-beloved holiday came into being.

The origins of Father’s Day date back to the early 20th century, a time when honoring mothers had already become a national tradition due to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, who championed Mother’s Day in 1908. Taking inspiration from this, a young woman named Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, felt it only proper that fathers received their due. In truth, Sonora’s inspiration for Father’s Day derived from her own life.

Along with her five siblings, Sonora was raised by her widowed father, William Jackson Smart — a Civil War veteran and dedicated single parent. Sonora felt a deep sense of admiration and gratitude for her father’s strength and commitment. In 1909, while attending a sermon at church on the topic of Mother’s Day, the idea struck her: why not a day to honor fathers also? It wasn’t long before Sonora rallied local churches, shopkeepers and government officials. Due to her efforts, the first official Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. At that time it wasn’t the holiday we know today, but it planted the seed.

Unlike Mother’s Day, Father’s Day faced a significantly more difficult road. Many men dismissed the idea, viewing it as overly sentimental or a ploy for commercial profit.

There were jokes that it would evolve into an endless parade of family-centered holidays, diluting the meaning of each. Not surprisingly, groups like the National Retail Dry Goods Association saw its potential and became proponents of Father’s Day. Undeterred, Sonora and her retail industry allies pushed on.

Fourteen years after the first Father’s Day in Spokane, President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, publicly supported a national Father’s Day, urging states to observe it, but stopped short of making it official. It wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. In 1972 — nearly six decades after Sonora Smart Dodd’s first efforts — President Richard Nixon signed it into law as an official national holiday.

Today, while celebrations take different forms, Father’s Day is recognized worldwide from the U.S. to Europe, Latin America, and beyond. Traditions range from gift-giving and family gatherings to sporting events and charity runs honoring fathers.

Happily, Sonora Smart Dodd lived to see her dream realized. She passed away in 1978 at the age of 96 with the satisfaction of knowing that her efforts had ushered in a special day each year where those unsung heroes — who taught us to ride bikes, grilled burgers at every family barbeque, and worked hard to make our lives possible — were celebrated.

So whether you’re presenting dad with a fancy new toy, sharing a cold beer, or simply picking up the phone to say “Thanks, Dad,” remember — it all started with a daughter’s love and one simple, passionate idea.