Who is your daddy and what does he do??

[Ryan Thames]

Let's take a moment to honor our fathers shall we?

My father was an army veteran served in Vietnam, a welder, and retired after ten years of being a correctional officer at Angola (Louisiana state penitentiary) only to serve another ten years.

He was a great father to us, and a great husband to my mother.

He died at 41 years old.... I was 7

[Michael Wells]

My step dad took me in as his own when I was 5. I was a little pain in the butt, but he loved me anyway. He never came to any of my sporting events but he sure worked hard to make sure I was able to go. I was 13 when I looked in my moms old yearbook (looking at people with fro's and stuff) and I came across a pic of a man that looked familiar. I showed mom the pic and at that point, I knew who my father was. Since then, my step dad has passed in 2000, 2 months before I got married. My dad and I now have a good relationship.

[kyledarby]

My father has been in sales my whole life. He is a true business man and outstanding salesman. He is also my best friend. He recently discovered a talent for air brushing. He has amazing skills. He is my biggest fan in armwrestling. He has made it to every US Open to support me. He lives by simple means. But is very content with his life. His wife and two boys and our families are pretty much all he needs. He's got his family,hobbies, and band. He over came a severe heart attack a few years back. Now we all have a second chance. He is my Dad.

[Johnny Edwards]

My dad had an alcohol problem when I was young an him an my mother didn't get along, he could get pretty mean when he was drinking a whole lot. He really straightened up when I got a little older about 7-12. He got really sick an his heart was in bad condition. From all the drinking an pills he did(Xanax). Well long story short he got saved an spent all the time he could with me an my brother, made us promise to never turn out like he did an avoid the drugs an alcohol an make something of ourselves. So far I have stayed away from the drug an alcohol scene an working through college an a job now. He taught me great values about life an gave me good goals to set for myself despite him an my mom not working out an his drinking an drug problem early in my life. He was a very good father in my opinion, only time he got out of bed after he got sick was when me an my brother would come to stay the weekend with him or come over during the week for him to take us to scouts. He died Dec. 26th 1999 when I had just turned 12 one of the saddest days of my life. As far as work went he was on disability the last few years of his life because of how bad his heart an lungs were. He worked in a cotton mill before then an was one of the best dolpher(spelling) around from what everyone told me because his hands were so big he could carry more than everyone else. Shame the hand gene skipped me. But that is a little about my father.

[Ryan Thames]

Great story Johnny.

[John Wilson]

Yes, Johnny. That is a tough story with a great message.

[Ryan Thames]

That Is proof that Jesus is who he says he is.....

We can debate the particulars all day long.

But how many lives has the gospel of jesus christ changed and saved. Compared to other "gods" and "religions"

[Johnny Edwards]

Thanks. I wish he woulda took his own advice alot earlier in life so he woulda still been around.

[enginterzi]

Sept 7, 2010 14:24:16 GMT -5 Ryan Thames said:

But how many lives has the gospel of jesus christ changed and saved. Compared to other "gods" and "religions"

ok short answer,over here we have less people to worry about saving since we have less of those problems compared to other "gods" and "religions".thanks to our belief that created strong families

[Logan Schuetzle]

Growing up I really thought my dad was the toughest guy to walk the earth. He won 2 light heavyweight Armwrestling National Championships in the 70's, and won at Petaluma as well.
He got into power lifting in the early 80's. Benched 565(raw), squatted 710.

He was not around very often and went drinking a lot with his AW and Power lifting buddies. He was very hard on me with sports. He would be the guy yelling from the bleachers for me to box out of rebound better. Even though I was probably the best player in city youth league it was never enough. I felt like I could never live up to him, or make him happy.

In junior high his mother died, he started attending church with us and became "saved" as well. He has been a totally different person since. He gives me positive feedback now about sports and is genuinely proud of me. We are really close now, and I can't even fathom him dying. I would be devastated.

I wasn't alive when he was armwrestling actively. He attended a practice with me a year or so ago and was whipping up on almost everyone 30 years later. He is still sore!! haha . Made me feel like a kid again to see him be strong at something.

[STEVE PHIPPS]

Logan,

That was fun having you Dad come to practice. Wish my Dad was still around. Bring your Dad back any time!

[Stephen Pickron "Pic"]

My dad passed away in Oct. of 06...he had a terrible accident with a gun..........he logged up till I was about 16 then he worked as a mechanic up until he passed away......I thought my dad was superman in many ways .....we take a lot of things for granted until it is took from you....My dad was a great father , husband , friend and one hell of a man!!!!!
I love and miss u Superman!!!!

[Elaine Blik]

Wow! Great thread, Ryan! I have enjoyed reading these posts about your dads...interesting, insightful and inspriring... Thank you guys for sharing!

My dad came from Russian immigrants, who came to Ellis Island in the early 1900's and then to Idaho of all places...to grow potatoes! He had 11 siblings and was raised on a farm growing potatoes, beets and other row crops as well as a small dairy. He served in Korea, enlisting as a CO but serving as a dental assistant in a MASH unit on the front lines. I always referred to him as "Radar" because he looked like him in his army pics. When he returned from Korea he purchased his own farm and started a dairy. He was a hard worker and we all learned to work hard on the farm, feeding and taking care of the cows and calves, bucking bales and carrying milk buckets. He was raised deep in the Mennonite church and we went to church 3 times a week. He studied the Bible a lot, teaching Sunday school and teaching studies specifically on the Book of Revelation. He was very well-versed in that area. He sang bass in the choir, men's singing groups and community choirs for many years. While in high school he was a great supporter of all that I was involved in, even going to drill team competitions to watch me. Years later when I got involved in armwrestling, he went to my competitions, helped with the tournaments I ran and competed early on until his shoulder wouldn't let him any longer. He was a very strong man and I always credit the strength I do have to him and "his Russian" genes! lol... He was only 5'4", but he had some pretty good "guns" until he got sick last year. He was a hard worker all his life, a good provider for our family and enjoyed having fun in whatever he was doing. He loved people in general. He loved to laugh and tell jokes. This year when I competed at Nationals, I dedicated it to him and was hoping to win another title in his memory...when it happened all I could do was cry... Dad passed away 10 months ago yesterday... I miss him more than anything and wish he could see Rainee grow up because they were very close.

[Cleve Dean]

My father and mother both come from very poor families, they both lost their fathers before they were eight years of age but they both had more drive and ambition than most and they worked hard as shrecroppers at first untill they could finally buy a farm of their own but my father was the man that disciplined me when I did wrong without fail and he taught me right from wrong and he was always there as was my mother and they taught my brother, sister, and myself to believe in GOD and to trust in hime and they always wanted us to have better than they had but they made us earn it all,

[James Worke]

My dad was a family man. He worked at Ford glass for 30 yrs. He scheduled all his vacation time around deer & duck hunting seasons. Was a great fisherman, has 2 largemouth bass mounted 10lb 6oz & 10lb 12oz that he caught on the same day.
Was a strong man that got along w everyone. Unfortunately he passed when i was only 3. Mom never remarried. She played both roles.