OT: HFD

OKLALionsFan

Senior
Dec 17, 2025
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50 years ago today, Father’s day 1975. I don’t remember anything about it. Just another busy day in the life of a 24-year-old with an infant son. Six months later in December my father died suddenly of a heart attack. So today as I spend my 50th Father’s Day without him, I tell you if you’re lucky enough to still have your father, cherish him while you do. Once he’s gone, it’s forever.

Happy Father's Day
 

LionJim

Heisman
Oct 12, 2021
15,516
21,436
113
Charlie Brown’s dad was a barber. He loved his dad: “No matter how tired or cranky he was, he was always glad to see me when I stopped by his shop.”
 
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LionJim

Heisman
Oct 12, 2021
15,516
21,436
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This is my favorite dad story.

My mom dropped dead when I was ten and the older I get the more I understand the strain and grief Dad experienced as a single father of five kids, the oldest 12. It was no walk in the park to raise me, believe you me.

Anyway, I was in graduate school at Maryland and I had one final qualifying exam to pass, it was either pass or get kicked out of the program. Four hours that would define the rest of my life. The exam was in complex analysis, my worst subject. I’m 3:50 into the exam and I’m stuck on this problem that I knew I had to prove, either prove it or tell everyone that I wasn’t good enough, that I’d wasted my last seven years. One last problem and I’m stuck, I’m the last one there and I say to myself that I’ve got to do this for my father. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere I find this pretty proof that saves my ***, lets me pass the exam. All because my father wouldn’t let me quit.

When I finally got my doctorate, I sent him a postcard: “Dr. LionJim now, more your honor than mine.” I loved that man.
 

Midnighter

Heisman
Jan 22, 2021
12,319
20,439
113




50 years ago today, Father’s day 1975. I don’t remember anything about it. Just another busy day in the life of a 24-year-old with an infant son. Six months later in December my father died suddenly of a heart attack. So today as I spend my 50th Father’s Day without him, I tell you if you’re lucky enough to still have your father, cherish him while you do. Once he’s gone, it’s forever.

Happy Father's Day


When I was a kid, I believed my dad (and mom) had been parents their whole life. And that they were pros. It wasn’t until I became a dad I realized they were winging it day to day and just learning on the job. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model but it can be very hard and challenging at times. Colleague of mine said it’s the best had hardest job he ever had - I agree. Cheers to all the dads out there!
 

OKLALionsFan

Senior
Dec 17, 2025
227
448
62
When I was a kid, I believed my dad (and mom) had been parents their whole life. And that they were pros. It wasn’t until I became a dad I realized they were winging it day to day and just learning on the job. I couldn’t have asked for a better role model but it can be very hard and challenging at times. Colleague of mine said it’s the best had hardest job he ever had - I agree. Cheers to all the dads out there!
I learned that early too. Kids don’t come with an instruction manual.
 

slwlion

Sophomore
Oct 14, 2021
83
119
32
This is my favorite dad story.

My mom dropped dead when I was ten and the older I get the more I understand the strain and grief Dad experienced as a single father of five kids, the oldest 12. It was no walk in the park to raise me, believe you me.

Anyway, I was in graduate school at Maryland and I had one final qualifying exam to pass, it was either pass or get kicked out of the program. Four hours that would define the rest of my life. The exam was in complex analysis, my worst subject. I’m 3:50 into the exam and I’m stuck on this problem that I knew I had to prove, either prove it or tell everyone that I wasn’t good enough, that I’d wasted my last seven years. One last problem and I’m stuck, I’m the last one there and I say to myself that I’ve got to do this for my father. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere I find this pretty proof that saves my ***, lets me pass the exam. All because my father wouldn’t let me quit.

When I finally got my doctorate, I sent him a postcard: “Dr. LionJim now, more your honor than mine.” I loved that man.
Sorta funny, when your wife dies you become a widower, when your husband dies you become a widow. I lost my daughter 4 years ago and my granddaughter 6 mos ago. There doesn't seem to be a name for folks like me. Hug your kids all you Dads.
 

CVLion

All-Conference
Oct 13, 2021
1,005
2,026
113




50 years ago today, Father’s day 1975. I don’t remember anything about it. Just another busy day in the life of a 24-year-old with an infant son. Six months later in December my father died suddenly of a heart attack. So today as I spend my 50th Father’s Day without him, I tell you if you’re lucky enough to still have your father, cherish him while you do. Once he’s gone, it’s forever.

Happy Father's Day


I’m feeling this today… for me, it’s the 20th Father’s Day without my dad.

I miss him and I’m grateful to still have my mom around.

Anytime my dad would do something for me back in the day and I thanked him, instead of “You’re welcome” he’d just smile and warmly say “Take care of your mother.” ❤️ He knew there would be a time like this one day. I will always gladly help my mom out any way I can, as one big way of honoring his legacy :)
 

CVLion

All-Conference
Oct 13, 2021
1,005
2,026
113
Sorta funny, when your wife dies you become a widower, when your husband dies you become a widow. I lost my daughter 4 years ago and my granddaughter 6 mos ago. There doesn't seem to be a name for folks like me. Hug your kids all you Dads.

I’m incredibly sorry to hear that. My best wishes to you today and all days.
 

Pocono Lion

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
2,360
4,296
113
My dad and me the Sunday after the Alabama game my freshman year in the fall of ‘81. He’d be gone in the spring of ‘82, but he got to see his son march in Beaver Stadium. Cancer sucks. He and my mom didn’t want me to know how sick he was because they were afraid I’d leave school.
 

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Thorndike2021

All-Conference
Mar 1, 2012
853
1,894
93
36 years since I lost my dad to cancer.

Now I'm the one with cancer. My son is acutely aware of the gravity of the situation. Fathers and sons know things about each other.

Remind everyone always: 'father' is a verb. It is something that you do, not something that you just are.

My dad was a verb father, and I always strove to be a verb as well. Thank God for good fathers.
 

bdgan

All-Conference
Oct 12, 2021
4,864
4,689
113
My father died 25 years ago and there's probably not a day that goes by that I don't think about him. He graduated high school which was more than many of my neighbor's parents. He worked multiple jobs during the week to support our family then on weekends he built our first home by himself. We were poor when we were kids but we didn't know it. My dad worked his way up to a factory supervisor position then ultimately started his own business. He almost went broke a few times during recessions but he would up being very successful in the end.

When I was a kid my heroes were people like Mickey Mantle and John Havlicek. I got smarter by the time I graduated. My dad was clearly my hero.