The Herald-Zeitung

It has been said that any male can truly father a child; however, many also agree only a special man can become a true father to a child.

In preparation of this oft forgotten fact, next Sunday, millions of people will celebrate the annual 24-hour timeframe when dad can say — with no trace of guilt: “I own the remote control.”

But what to buy dad — who already has a cupboard of black socks or a closet full of ties and new golf balls. If dad partakes of a glass of wine or enjoys collecting a variety of varietals, Water 2 Wine on Seguin Avenue has a unique Father’s Day gift idea: Custom-themed labels on dad’s newest favorite bottle of wine.

“We’re New Braunfels’ first custom winery — and the only place in town where everything is available for tasting,” said owner Kelley Rush. “When dad finds one — or more — he likes, you can e-mail us your design and we’ll create a one-of-a-kind label for only $5, plus the cost of the wine.”

As Water 2 Wine is closed Sundays, Rush said, the winery will be running a special that includes free bottles, labels and foils with the purchase of a Father’s Day batch of wine, which is the equivalent of 28 to 30 bottles.

Roses are the official flower of Father’s Day — red for living fathers and white for those who have passed away — and while some florists might tend to be quieter after the Mother’s Day rush, many home improvement stores are expecting a traditional increase in business.

“We are definitely gearing up for a busy weekend,” said Kevin Willingham, who works as a floor salesman at Lacks Furniture Center on San Antonio Street in New Braunfels.

“Leather recliners and big screen televisions — the bigger the better — are always popular items,” Willingham said. “It’s all about the big boys’ toys; dads love the idea of stretching out and watching the big game on something like one of our 60-inch plasma televisions.”

But where did this day of male pampering come from — the hallways of Hallmark, the home office of Home Depot, the marketing execs of Manhattan, perhaps?

In fact, Father’s Day can be traced back to more than 100 years ago, when the first known celebration occurred on July 5, 1908 in Fairmont, W.Va.

One woman is believed to have suggested the idea to her local pastor after a deadly explosion in a nearby town killed 361 men.

A year later — during another sermon around Mother’s Day — Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Wash., became inspired to create a special day for her father, according to information from History.com.

When her mother died, Sonora and her siblings were raised by William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran. Sonora wanted to show how thankful she was, so because William was born in June, she worked to have the first official Father’s Day celebrated on June 19, 1910.

In 1924, President Coolidge recommended Father’s Day become a national holiday.

President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day in 1966.

However, it was not until 1972 that President Richard Nixon instituted Father’s Day as a national observance.

And, just in case, some dads have no desire to own the remote control, L.J. Flores of Bike Works, also on San Antonio Street, has an idea.

“We offer a wide range of bicycles, safety gear and all sorts of accessories,” said Flores. “From the dads who are interested in competitive cycling to the dads who just want to get out for a relaxing bike ride around the neighborhood and make it a family affair with the kids, we can make it happen. Hey, it’s Father’s Day, so it’s all about dad, right?”