SUMMARY
- Sonora Smart Dodd, fondly remembered as the "Mother of Father's Day," championed the cause for this holiday in 1910, sparking a tradition of heartfelt acknowledgements for fathers.
- Dodd's determination for Father's Day recognition led to a relentless 62-year campaign, culminating in President Richard Nixon officially declaring the third Sunday of June as a federal holiday for fathers in 1972.
- The resilient and versatile legacy of Dodd lives on through her great-granddaughter, Betsy Roddy, who proudly embraces her heritage and the spirit of her great-grandmother.
Sonora Smart Dodd, often termed the "Mother of Father's Day," initiated this annual tribute to fathers in 1910, right from her hometown, Spokane, Washington. Her efforts became the roots of a tradition that has given birth to an array of heartfelt gifts, from the eccentrically patterned neckties to children's delightful finger paintings, bringing emotions to even the most stone-faced fathers.
The idea was born in a Spokane church on Mother's Day in 1909 as Dodd contemplated the lack of a similar day to honor fathers. Her question, "Why isn't there a Father's Day?" stemmed from her personal experience. She and her five siblings were raised single-handedly by their father, William Jackson Smart, after their mother's untimely death in childbirth in 1898.
Smart, a Civil War veteran turned farmer, had excelled in his role as both father and mother. To acknowledge his love and leadership, Dodd campaigned strenuously with local clergy and the YWCA, leading to the first Father's Day in Spokane in 1910.
However, the holiday was not immediately popular, resulting in Dodd spending the next 62 years lobbying for its official recognition. Only in 1972 did President Richard Nixon declare the third Sunday of June as a federal holiday dedicated to fathers, allowing Dodd to witness her dream come true before her passing in 1978.
Not just the initiator of Father's Day, Dodd was a multitalented individual, a poet, painter, businesswoman, and a mother herself. She instilled this versatile spirit into her great-granddaughter, Betsy Roddy, who is now a proud bearer of this legacy.
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