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1998 Father of the Year
 

Introductory Remarks

Before we begin, I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the many people who have made this event possible. First, a special thanks to our generous corporate sponsors BellSouth, Michelin of North America, NationsBank, and SCANA. These public spirited corporations donated the money for the recipient's honorarium and also helped defray other costs. Second, I would like to thank our judges Chief Charles Austin of the Columbia Police Department, the Rev. David Yearick of Greenville, Jim Ramsey of York, Dr. Steve Suits of Palmetto Family Council in Columbia, Lisa Van Riper of Greenville, the Rev, John P. Griffith of Saluda, and Father Greg West of Bluffton. These volunteers spent many hours reading letters of nominations, meeting together, and choosing the best from among a number of extremely strong entries. Finally, I would like to thank Governor Beasley for taking time out of his busy schedule to be with us today. His administration has consistently supported South Carolina families, and I know he's especially interested in programs that strengthen the role of fathers.

The May issue of Sports Illustrated features professional athletes who have fathered children, often out of wedlock, and then refused to accept responsibility for their upbringing. Many of these players have been involved in paternity suits. Sports Illustrated quotes one of the top sports agent as saying, "I'd say there might be more players' kids out of wedlock than there are players in the NBA." And the NBA isn't unique in this respect. The article cites baseball and football players who have also been defendants in paternity suits and have been forced to pay support for out of wedlock children. How does this neglect affect the children of absent fathers? Here's what Corrie Bird, Larry Bird's daughter by a first marriage, says: "When I was younger, I would send him letters, and my mom would send him my school pictures and report cards. We would send them certified mail to make sure he received them, but he just didn't respond...I went to see the Pacers play earlier this season, and I went down to talk to Dinah [Bird's wife of eight years] and see their kids. [He] looked over and saw me holding [Bird's daughter, five year old] Mariah, but he just kind of smiled awkwardly. I didn't get to talk to him, though." Over the past few decades, the conduct of our young people has become so destructive that it now jeopardizes our future. Crime and drug use among American youth are, for the first time in history, a major problem. Every school, every neighborhood is now at risk. But why has this problem arisen in the late 20th century?

The answer lies in the collapse of the family. We know that children with missing fathers are far more likely to get in trouble with the law than those who grow up in two parent families. The absence of a father is the best predictor we have of juvenile crime much more accurate than poverty or any other factor. In fact, more than three fourths of all admissions to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice come from single parent families. Can single mothers raise their children to be successful and responsible citizens? Many, many can and do. But research indicates they're struggling against formidable odds, and I'm sure most would agree that they could use the help of a strong and caring father in the household. Rather than athletes who ignore their own children, many of the true heroes of our time are the nation's fathers, the ones who remain with their families, love and support their wives, and are a daily presence in the lives of their sons and daughters. Most hold down jobs that lack the glamour of professional sports. They're construction workers, bank clerks, dentists, delivery men, teachers, gardeners, automobile mechanics, clergymen, civil servants, and hotdog vendors. They often live on tight budgets and can barely afford automobile payments. On the other hand, they come home every night, give their children a hug, and talk about genuinely important matters like skinned knees and homework. They're good listeners when youngsters have a bad day at school or on the playground. They remember all birthdays and attend all Little League games. Most importantly, good fathers provide their children with a strong sense of what is right and wrong, not only by word, but also by example. An absentee father can't drop by every 12 months, tell a teenager to behave, and expect the child to be inoculated against drugs and crime for the next year. At the very least, being a good father requires commitment and a constant physical presence in a child's life. In our society, sports heroes receive more honors and awards than just about any other group: the Heisman Trophy, the Stanley Cup, the Ryder Cup, the Davis Cup, and MVP awards in every sport and for every major athletic event. Because good fathers are genuine national heroes, we sponsor this annual award for the South Carolina Father of the Year. In giving this award, we honor all those fathers who, in their daily lives, are teaching their kids to work hard, obey the law, and become responsible members of the community. I invite South Carolinians to join us this weekend in celebrating the enormous contribution that good fathers make to the happiness of their children and to the stability of our society, a contribution that ultimately means more than all the playoff games, Super Bowls, and World Series combined. And now it's a privilege to introduce the Governor of South Carolina, who will present the Father of the Year Award.

 

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