Published: June 16, 2008 08:37 am      

SNAP’s 2008 Father of the Year selected

Sunday, June 15, 2008 — irst Place

Winner: Donnie Bowers

Submitted by: April Bowers Garner



Growing up, every child has a hero. For some, it may be a sports celebrity, or movie star. My hero was, and still is, my dad, Donnie Bowers.

As a girl it seemed there was nothing my dad couldn’t do. Now that I am older, I still feel that way. Maybe my dad can’t fix all my problems, but I know he’ll try his best to make them better.

For years my dad strived to keep our family business going, often working in the heat, cold, weekends and nights. He wanted the best for us. From him I have learned the value of hard work. As I’ve watched him work, I’ve also learned life lessons — the importance of honesty, taking responsibility, being kind to others and treating people fairly.

In recent years I’ve watched my dad become faced with difficult challenges. Much of his time was devoted to helping care for my grandfather as he suffered from a long illness. Working night and day, as well as staying with Grandpa, took a toll on my dad, but he never complained.

As I have faced difficult issues in my life, my dad has been by my side, never criticizing, but offering support in numerous ways. I know I could not have endured these things without his love and support.

Our family has always been very close, depending on each other to keep a business running and at home as well.

In March my parents and I suffered pain and grief at the loss of my 26-year-old brother, Brian, from leukemia. Throughout the long hospital days, my dad did his best to be by my brother’s side, morning and night, leaving only to pick up things for my mom and to check on the farm before rushing back.

When Brian passed away, my dad was a source of strength for me and my children. As I watched my dad deal with the loss of a son, it was another opportunity for me to learn lessons about life.

In my eyes, my dad will always be the Father of the Year.



Second Place

Winner: Cal Massingale

Submitted by: Pamela Hatley



Life as a single father has never been easy for my dad but he has always managed to pull off the role as a father and mother to his four children with much success. In 1994 unimaginable circumstances landed three girls and one boy into Cal Massingale’s lap, ranging in ages from 14 to 1. He tackled his role as a single father with a warm heart, caring hand and a smile that lit up four dark worlds.

He has endured through not only the everyday woes of raising children, but things most parents could never imagine surviving through. I wish I could elaborate on the full extent of tragedies and hard times that he has endured, as the wounds run too deep to be shared.

Looking back, he had to have Superman strength to not only survive some of these by himself, but also to help his children through things that no one should have to face.

Dad worked full time and picked up odd jobs here and there to provide for us, and honestly we never wanted for anything. Beyond working he juggled attending sports activities, school functions, doctors appointments and all other activities that sometimes two parents can’t pull off. He did all of this with no help from family members, as the closest family lived in Greenville, S.C.

He instilled into all of his kids the importance of strong morals, education and love. We were always told to shoot for the stars, and never once doubted his support or love. He always seemed to know without fault when to guide us and when to let us pave our own way.

Currently his single parent role is still ongoing. Today, he has two daughters who are married and started families of their own, a son that is currently in college in Georgia and his youngest daughter is attending the Stanly Early College Program. He is now a grandpa to two grandchildren and he has another that should arrive any day.

There are not enough words to describe how truly special my dad is; he is an angel in disguise.



Third Place

Winner: Don Burleson

Submitted: Luanne Williams



Someone once said “a man’s children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season.”

Every year as spring turns to summer the thriving plants in my dad’s garden remind me of the steadfast nurturing my siblings and I have enjoyed at the hands of this caring man.

Born in the Endy community in 1931, Dad grew up on a farm where hard work and determination were a way of life. A believer in God, in his country and his family, he passed these values on to my sister, my brother and me, teaching us by example that anything worth doing is worth doing right.

With my mom by his side, he planted spiritual seeds, taking us to church every Sunday and showing us what’s important in life.

As for the “weeding,” he kept a close watch on the friends we chose, the hobbies we took up, the habits we formed, all the while steering us toward the straight and narrow. We weren’t always happy about it — what teenager enjoys curfews and strict rules? — but we knew he did it out of love.

Beyond weeding out the negative, he encouraged our interests and helped us grow our talents. Money that he could have used for himself instead went to meet our needs. His fiscal wisdom — steer clear of the credit cards and take care of what you have — helped us learn the difference between a want and a need.

Even as his “garden” of children has grown well beyond the seedling stage, (I’m the youngest at 43) he is still nurturing. His handy man skills have bailed us out of many a fix, and his advice and encouragement have helped us manage families of our own.

Now 76, Dad is still gardening and we have the joy of watching him nurture and weed another generation as he teaches a grandson to drive a tractor, introduces a granddaughter to the pleasures of planting and anticipates the fruits of his labor — a joy as sweet and satisfying as the season’s first ripe tomato.