Where did Father's Day come from?

Now that I am an "official" father, I wanted to know a little bit about this celebration, here's what I found after a little research:

Sonora Smart Dodd (Spokane, Washington) was listening to a Mother's Day sermon in her church and thought silently to herself that fathers needed the same sort of recognition also.

Sonora's own mother died in 1898. She was one of six children. Her father raised his children alone after his wife's death. She felt that her father definitely deserved some recognition. She began working through Protestant churches and local groups in the Spokane area to promote this holiday. She decided that the
3rd Sunday in June would be the day, and instead of a carnation (like Anna Jarvis proclaimed for Mother's Day) Sonora said everyone should wear a rose for Father's Day. She circulated a petition at first among ministers and church organizations. So, the very first Father's Day observance took place in churches and were similar to the Mother's Day celebration.

The church's also used Father's Day as a way to promote the masculine side of Christianity and to remind men (who might become fathers) and all fathers of their obligation to look after their families' spiritual welfare also.

Sonora Dodd then formed a committee to promote the new church celebration by getting political endorsements, answering questions from around the country and putting on local celebrations. Although she did a lot of work, the idea of a Father's Day did not catch on as quickly as a Mother's Day did.

By 1920, Father's Day had pretty well evaporated from the American social calendar and Mrs. Dodd had moved on to other interests. But after studying at the Art Institute of Chicago and working as a fashion designer in Hollywood, she came home to Spokane 10 years later in the 1930's. At that time, she resumed her campaign for a
Father's Day. By this time, the holiday (celebrated only in churches) was 25 years old. Suddenly, there was a renewed interest and Father's Day got a little boost (at least in Eastern Washington State). But, the rest of the United States wasn't so enthused and took it as just another excuse for a holiday, especially when it came to the commercial issues. After all, what did men want with sentimental things like flowers, gifts and greeting cards?

But guess who came charging to the rescue? The Associated Men's Wear Retailers of New York City
took on the challenge of getting a Father's Day in this country (not out of the goodness of their hearts, more well their pocketbooks. They knew the commercial potential!)

In 1938, they set up The National Council for the Promotion of Father's Day. The council worked with florists, tobacconists, stationers and men's clothiers across the United States to promote Father's Day. Their slogan? "Give Dad Something To Wear!"

President Calvin Coolidge had originally recommended that Father's Day become an official observance in 1924. But it took years... I mean...YEARS until 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation proclaiming the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.

Unfortunately, Sonora Smart Dodd died in 1978 at the age of 96, and only lived to see her holiday celebrated for a few years. Today, the Father's Day Council estimates that this observance brings in approximately $1 billion a year in retail sales.