A salute to dads

The Western Nebraska Observer asked readers to submit a letter nominating a father as the greatest dad in honor of Father’s Day.

The winning letter comes from a past graduate of Kimball High School, who remembers her father’s struggle to balance work life with quality family time.

She continues to admire her dad’s focus on family, now with grandchildren and she enjoys seeing the mutual love and excitement between the two generations.

Without further ado, we announce the 2016 Greatest Dad winner – Rich Flores.

Read his daughter, Amy’s, nomination below.

I nominate my dad, Rich Flores for the greatest dad.

My dad started from humble beginnings and, due to the absence of his own father, was a father figure to many of his younger siblings long before he had me and my brothers. My dad worked hard to make sure that me and my brothers never knew the poverty he did. My dad’s love for his family shows in how he was not only a father figure for his siblings, he is also a father figure to a few of my cousins - giving them lasting memories of a man who genuinely cared.

He would be gone at times for a week or two working on his rigs, but he made time for us when he came home. He taught me how to play softball and wrestle and be silly. I would watch him fix things and build things. He would tell me stories of his life and his family. He encouraged me to learn whatever it was I wanted to learn and that there were no boundaries to knowledge.

As a kid, my dad took us to Mt. Rushmore and Garden of the Gods and he would marvel at the history and impress upon us it’s importance. As an adult, he flew to Florida so I wouldn’t have to drive back to Colorado/ Nebraska by myself and we had fun doing some sight-seeing along the way.

I now live 2 hours away from him, and he will drive down just for the day or just for lunch/dinner to see me and my son, Julian. Now, as a Grandpa, I see how much fun he has with Julian and I swear the excitement in my dad’s eyes is just as bright as my son’s when my son discovers something new. My dad likes doing things with Julian and enjoys his visits to Kimball.

My dad doesn’t have a Harvard degree, a job in an ivory tower, or even James Bond looks or gadgets (don’t tell him!) My dad drives the only goofy looking truck with the driver’s seat on the right in Kimball… but make no mistake, he’s still “tougher than alligator baggies.” And I’m proud to say he’s my dad.

Amy Flores

Amy J Flores BSN RN

RN Clinical Documentation Specialist