In the United States, we celebrate fatherhood on the third Sunday of June. Sonora Dodd proposed the idea of Father's Day to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran, who had raised six children as a single parent. Although his birthday was June 5, the Spokane Ministerial Alliance finally agreed upon the third Sunday of June to commemorate and recognize fatherhood. The first Father's Day celebration took place in the United States on June 19, 1910. President Richard Nixon, father of two daughters, declared Father's Day a national holiday in 1972.
Here are words of wisdom gleaned from a number of fathers.
Suze Datz, docent at the Palm Springs Historical Society, shared advice from her father. "If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. Don’t lie. Don’t be a sore loser or an obnoxious winner and treat people the way you want to be treated." He also taught her about baseball’s infield fly rule and how to keep baseball stats. But that’s another story.
Steve Hulett, former business rep for the Animation Guild: "Do your best.”
Bill Kroyer, president Kroyer Films: "Do a good job no matter how small the task. His practical application of this idea had me paying careful attention to every hedge I trimmed, sidewalk I shoveled, or car I washed, but the philosophy behind it was similar to that idea that any job worth doing was worth doing well. When I got into animation, no matter how seemingly trivial the job I got, I focused completely and did my best, and I believe that was the ethic that allowed me to succeed in the business."
Tom Sito, professor of animation, USC: "My father taught me, 'You'll get further in life with a smile than without. Plan ahead for your future. And never volunteer for anything that doesn't pay.' Alas, I did not follow the last lesson."
“My dad, Mike Kurtz, was a fun guy,” says Bob Kurtz, Director and Owner at Kurtz and Friends. “The best thing my dad did for me... was to believe in me. He believed in my dreams. My dad was my number one fan... and I miss him.”
“I have the honor of calling Bob Kurtz my dad and my best friend,” says Boo Lopez, Marketing & Strategy EA, Disney Branded TV & Nat Geo. “His timeless advice includes such gems as ‘sometimes in life, finding out what you don’t like to do is just as important as finding out what you do like to do’. Dad is big on passion. Dad’s advice does not feel like advice at all, it’s like a soft hug or a parent holding onto the back of the bike as you take your first ride without training wheels. Always there from a place of love and support, never judgment.”
“One of the best things that my dad, animation director Bob Clampett, encouraged my brother, sister and myself was to follow our dreams... and if you decided to make a change... to go for it!” says Ruth Clampett, Owner, Creative Director and Author at Clampett Studio Collections. “I took his encouragement, and after I was two years into a graphic art degree, I realized that most of the projects were uninspiring for me. After taking some night classes, I fell in love with photography. After about a year of juggling photo jobs, I realized that I loved working in the animation world most of all. Thanks, Dad!!!”
Andy Luckey, Executive Producer - Greater Family, LLC, shared Bud Luckey’s (director of Pixar’s short film Boundin’) working advice. “Always do the best work you can. Hire the best talent you can. Pay them fairly and on time. Listen to your team's concerns and thoughts. NEVER take unfair advantage of someone in a business deal. It takes decades to build a good reputation but only one bad act to ruin it.”
My opa, my father's father, Jan Kleibrink, advised him to "Keep calm. Ultimately things will straighten out."
Before I graduated college, my father Paul Kleibrink, gave me the best career advice of all: "It's your life. Live it how you want to live it, not how you think others want you to. Do what excites you the most."
My father-in-law, Rex Thompson, believed that you can do anything if you work hard at it. Working hard at it includes learning what you need to know, as well as whom you need to know. What he didn't know, he was ready to learn. A master at networking, my father-in-law talked to everybody. And he listened. He claimed that he would prefer to be alone, but he found himself often surrounded by people because they liked to be around him. He was a master salesperson because he was a natural. After work, he coached a girls softball team. He taught them teamwork and encouraged them to always do their best. He believed in them. He believed in me. He always advised me to stretch and grow. He encouraged me to take chances. If my employer didn't give me the chance to learn, move on. Don't be afraid to make a change. My father-in-law's business card didn't have a title on it--just his name, Rex Thompson, and what he did, "Everything." Everyone who knew Rex has a story about him. He encouraged everyone who needed encouragement (which is everyone!) to pursue their dreams.
Pamela Kleibrink Thompson appreciated and loved her dad, Paul Kleibrink and misses him and thanks him for encouraging her to find her own path and to be true to herself.