This is part one of a three-part series celebrating the 115th anniversary of Father's Day – which began right here in Spokane.
The story of Father’s Day’s transformation from a local Spokane celebration to a worldwide phenomenon is one of extraordinary persistence—and it nearly disappeared entirely along the way.
When Spokane sparked a national movement
The first Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910, proved to be just the beginning of something much larger than Sonora Smart Dodd could have imagined. Within days, seven national newspapers carried the story of Spokane’s innovative celebration, and letters began pouring in from across America—up to 100 daily—thanking Sonora for creating this meaningful tribute to fathers.
Two years later, on June 16, 1912, Centenary Presbyterian Church (now Knox Presbyterian at 806 W. Knox Avenue) held a special Father’s Day service that captured the growing significance of the movement. Rev. Conrad Bluhm opened with these powerful words that still resonate today:
Rugged, husky, stalwart Father’s Day! Filling a gap. Restoring a prestige.
He celebrated Sonora’s vision, observing:
While the Spirit has been working everywhere to line up men for God, it fell to the lot of a young mother to dream into fact ‘Father’s Day.’
Rev. Bluhm speculated that the first Father’s Day sermon was probably entitled “The Knighthood That Never Retreats”—a phrase that perfectly captures what we witness in fathers today who choose their children over their challenges, their future over their past.
Presidential recognition and unexpected struggles
By 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially launched Father’s Day from Washington, D.C. President Calvin Coolidge endorsed it in 1924, and Sonora was honored at the 1940 New York World’s Fair as Father’s Day’s founder.
But here’s what most people don’t realize: Father’s Day almost died.
Unlike Mother’s Day, which received quick official recognition, Father’s Day struggled for decades to gain permanent status. It wasn’t until 1972—a full 62 years after Sonora’s first celebration—that President Nixon finally signed legislation making Father’s Day a permanent national holiday.
Throughout those challenging decades, Sonora never gave up. At age 92 in 1974, she stood on stage with President Nixon at Spokane’s Expo ’74, once again being recognized for her pioneering efforts. She had spent nearly her entire adult life advocating for the recognition fathers deserved.
A legacy that circles the globe
Today, Father’s Day is celebrated in over 112 countries worldwide. From Australia to Zimbabwe, fathers receive recognition that traces back to one daughter’s love for her father and her refusal to let the idea fade away.
Sonora died in 1978 at age 96, and monuments now mark both her former home at 603 S. Arthur Street and her gravesite at Greenwood Memorial Terrace—permanent reminders of how one person’s vision can change the world.
Continuing the mission today
This Sunday, we’ll continue Sonora’s tradition when we honor our Fathers of the Year at Riverfront Park’s Lilac Bowl—the same location where it all began 115 years ago. But our work extends far beyond annual celebrations.
Just as Sonora refused to give up during Father’s Day’s 62-year struggle for recognition, we refuse to give up on fathers waiting for help in our community. Right now, we’re operating at full capacity with fathers ready to change waiting weeks to get the support they need when they’re most motivated to begin their transformation.
Our SpoFI 2.0 campaign represents our commitment to expanding that capacity, ensuring every father who chooses to put his children first has immediate access to the programs that can transform his family’s future.
The knighthood that never retreats
From William Smart’s devotion to his six children, to Sonora’s decades-long advocacy, to the fathers in our programs today choosing forgiveness over anger—the thread of persistence runs through this entire story.
These fathers represent that same “knighthood that never retreats” that Rev. Bluhm celebrated in 1912. They’re proof that Sonora’s vision continues to transform lives, one father and one family at a time.
Join us this Sunday, June 15th, from 1-3 PM at Riverfront Park’s Lilac Bowl for our Father of the Year celebration. Let’s honor fathers together where Father’s Day began—and where our next chapter of supporting fathers continues to unfold.
Connect with Our Executive Director
SpoFI Founder and Executive Director Ron Hauenstein would enjoy the opportunity to share the SpoFI story with you. To arrange a meeting to learn more about how SpoFI helps dads become better fathers and employees, contact Ron using the button below.
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