In celebration of Father's Day this weekend, Around Town asked community leaders to share an important lesson their father or grandfather taught them. Here are their responses:
Cobb Chief Magistrate Brendan Murphy:
"As a son of immigrants, an entrepreneur, and a husband and father for over 40 years, my Dad taught us to love this country, work hard, and put family first. He never met a stranger and is always ready to quietly help someone in need. We share the same name, and I try to live up to my Dad’s legacy of love each day. And we’re both eternal optimists and Falcons fans — which goes hand in hand!"
State Rep. David Wilkerson, D-Powder Springs: "I learned the importance of community service from my father, 1st Sgt. Richard Wilkerson, who passed in 2020. After serving in Vietnam and later retiring from the Army, he founded a boys club. He welcomed everyone — regardless of race, background or economic status — and made a lasting difference in the lives of many. I strive to do the same through my work today."
Becky Sayler
Cobb Board of Education member Becky Sayler: “My dad wrote me a letter before I was born full of advice and hopes he had for me. It included ‘Grab at every opportunity to learn something new’ and, ‘Be patient, some people may require a little more understanding or time than others,’ and, ‘Most people are worth knowing.’ He is about to celebrate his 78th birthday and exemplifies these lessons in the way he lives his life.”
Antoine Pettway, head coach, Kennesaw State men’s basketball:“I learned the importance of hard work and dedication by watching my father and grandfather. I am so blessed to have had an opportunity to observe their consistent work ethic on a daily basis. Every morning I watched my granddad and dad wake up at 5 a.m., head to our pasture to feed our cattle then proceed to head to their jobs. One went to school, where he taught and coached basketball while the other would run our family store, which he built himself. Their consistency and drive to be the best bleeds over into me and it inspires me to this day.”
Donna Krueger, owner, dk Gallery: "My Dad told me to have a career in Advertising. I have enjoyed this path my whole life."
Michael Rhett
Robin Rayne
State Sen. Michael "Doc" Rhett, D-Marietta: "My father, Harold Rhett, a decorated Army combat soldier, encouraged my brother, sister, and I to serve community and country with our lives. He said by giving back, you can sow good seeds not only for yourself but for others to experience the American dream of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That is what makes America great!"
Melanie Kagan, CEO, Center for Family Resources: My father is an avid reader, a history buff, and an endlessly patient man. The lessons he taught me are centered in his quiet and calm strength and the importance of treating those you love well. And always eat your vegetables. My grandfather taught me how to tell a good story and how to play 5 card stud."
Marietta Police Chief David Beam:“My father passed away from natural causes when I was 14. The strongest lesson he taught me was that of the importance of family. I had five brothers and three sisters who had aged out of the home. However, my father always made sure to have a lot of family get-togethers so that no one lost touch. We were all very close and looked out for each other. My father told me that family always comes first and to hold them close. As a husband, father and grandfather, that lesson resonates with me stronger than any other lesson I have learned. Love and cherish your family.”
Shelia Manely, chief operating officer for The Manely Firm: "My dad gave me boundaries with lots of room in between to play, explore and learn. He never micromanaged any aspect of my life and he trusted that if I needed him, I would call. He was an unwavering source of support without being overbearing. He taught me to trust. Oh! And, how to make fabulous French Toast!"
Cobb Chief Assistant District Attorney Jesse Evans: "'Never quit.' My father was one of the hardest working men I’ve ever known. I grew up working construction on job sites of his before heading to college, law school, and beyond. He was perhaps the most hard-working, tenacious, determined men I’ve ever known. His never-quit spirit is something one should aspire to achieve."
Steven Lebow
Robin Rayne
Rabbi Steven Lebow:"My father taught me 'Never lose your sense of humor.' And on that peg there hangs this tale. I suffer from what I call 'bone crushing, mind numbing' depression. I am well now, but back in the day many was the time when I did not want to leave my bed and go out to face the day. Not to put too fine a point on it, but when you suffer depression you lose all sense of perspective. Slights that are small feel devastating. Minor disappointments might ruin an entire day, or an entire week!
"Although my father’s nickname was 'Doc Lebow.' He was NOT a real doctor. Nonetheless, he offered to me the best prescription he had.
"'Keep your chin up. And hold your head up high. And most of all… never lose your sense of humor!' And so it goes. Over the years having 'a sense of humor' has been the right prescription all along!"
Angela Orange
Marietta Board of Education member Angela Orange: “Twenty years ago, my father and I took a trip to visit my uncle, who at the time lived in Laramie, Wyoming. Always up for an adventure, he surprised us with an idea — out of the blue, he proposed a road trip to Yellowstone National Park. My uncle never turned down a good adventure, and this journey was no exception. Guided only by a paper map — no GPS, no phone giving turn-by-turn directions — and me at the wheel, he and my father navigated the winding mountain roads of Wyoming and Montana with the quiet confidence of outdoorsmen and former military men. I knew we’d get there safely. They had traveled far more treacherous paths in their youth — on the family farm as boys and on battlefields during World War II. In the car, as the miles rolled by, I listened to their stories. Tales of grit, family, brotherhood, and resilience that I’ve kept in my heart ever since. Both men have since passed away, but their spirit lives on in every story they told and every lesson they quietly taught. That trip was more than a vacation. It was a gift of time, legacy, and love. I will cherish it for a lifetime.”
State Sen. Ed Setzler, R-Acworth: "Starting at age 10, my Dad got up at 4 a.m. every morning, seven days a week, rain or shine, 364 days per year (they got Christmas morning off) and pedaled his bike for 20 miles, delivering newspapers for three hours before going to school in the mornings; he delivered the newspaper to every family, rich or poor, black or white for much of the 1950s in his little home town in the segregated South. The lessons he learned, as perhaps the only single person in his town who had built personal relationships across racial and cultural lines in those days, taught him that 'when you do hard things that no one else does, you learn great lessons that no one else learns.'
"Having been the Provost of a Christian college, a US Army Colonel, and in parish ministry for 55 years, Dad would say that getting out of your own surroundings and doing hard things helps us to Glorify God in ways that we never could have otherwise."
Jerry Mack, head coach, Kennesaw State football:“One thing I learned from my dad was just the importance of how hard work can elevate your career and elevate everything that you’re trying to achieve in life. I watched him get up every morning to crack a dawn and go to work, then come home and even take a small nap and then get up and go to his second job — and sometimes even three jobs in the course of a 24-hour span. What that taught me was just the importance of how much time and energy it takes to actually move the needle in your career and to make sure that you support your family in the right way. And that’s what I think, at KSU, that we’re trying to build our program off the equivalence of hard work and toughness that I saw in my dad. I’m taking those same traits and attributes that he had in his life, and I’m trying to apply how to run a Division I program.”
Powder Springs Mayor Al Thurman:“When I think in terms of Father’s Day, I always remember my father’s words, about, ‘Son, be truthful. Say what you mean and mean what you say.’ The things that he said to me always involved integrity, truth, being true to your family and taking care of your family. Those are the things. All of the things he has taught me are sustaining me to this day as a father.”
Cobb CommissionerKeli Gambrill: "I was blessed to have my dad and step-dad in my life and they both shaped who I am today. My dad was always up to a challenge or an adventure. My step dad never knew a stranger. Their wisdom and life lessons now help guide me to be the best version of myself."
Rabbi Daniel Dorsch: "I learned from my dad that no one in life 'owes you' anything, that you need to work hard for everything, and that what you put into an experience is always commensurate with what you get out of it (I pass that last piece of advice to every bar/bat mitzvah student I prepare with)."
Sally Macaulay
Sally Macaulay, executive director, Marietta Cobb Museum of Art:"One of the most important lessons my father taught me growing up was the value of integrity. He always said that your word is your bond — that no matter what, you should keep your promises and do what’s right, even when no one is watching. This shaped the way I treat others, make decisions, and face challenges in life. His quiet example showed me that true strength comes not from loud words, but from honest actions."
Marietta Councilman Joseph Goldstein: "I learned from both my grandfather (Herbert Goldstein) and father (Philip Goldstein) to think generationally, make decisions for both the short term and the long term, and to treat people fairly."
Jeri Barr, former Center for Family Resources CEO: "I’m trying to think of something deep and thoughtful, but all that comes to mind is this. He loved people. Kids. I’m an only child, but our home was always full of people and neighborhood kids. Then when I was in high school, the football team. He was the center of attention at any gathering. People loved being around him. The one thing I remember was he said if flash bulbs go off, turn and smile. You will be in the local news! And he was on TV and in the newspaper."
State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R-east Cobb: "So many lessons. Here are a couple. 1) In America, if you work hard, you can do anything you want 'even though you’re a girl.' His example of determination and a strong work ethic has stuck with me and many other family members. 2) Never forget your family and where you came from."
Cobb Commissioner JoAnn Birrell: "Well I have many lessons learned from my father but I will give you the top ones. My dad was my hero — a WWII Army veteran and North Carolina National Guard retired Lt Col. I learned many lessons from my dad who taught me the importance of a good education, instilled in me a strong work ethic, family comes first, and respect for our elders and those in authority. My patriotism and love of this great country of ours comes from my father. Happy Father's Day to all the incredible dads God Bless."
State Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell: "I learned so much from my father and grandfathers and am eternally grateful for their wisdom. He is one lesson: 'Never settle for the status quo! Rock the boat and innovate when others rest, advocate when others are silent and remember the priorities of life – God, Family, Country and Work. Be exceptional at everything and never take 'no' for an answer. As generations of First Responders, I pray you continue our family tradition of 'running in, when others run out.' Don’t back down from problems or challenges, be the solution."
Donna Rowe, president and CEO of the Cobb County Veterans Memorial Foundation.
Jack Lindner
Donna Rowe, president and CEO of the Cobb County Veterans Memorial Foundation:
"My father Theodore (Bucky) E. Curtis was a wonderful man, astute businessman and a wonderful father and husband. He was kind and gentle but very smart in all his political and business dealings.
"The most important thing my dear father taught me is best told by this story. At the age of 13 years I had gone to work with my father at his Taxi business. A salesman came in and was trying to sell my father tires for his whole fleet. I was standing next to my father when he told the man his price was too high and he would not be purchasing tires from him.
"The salesman became very verbally abusive to my father and when he pulled away on his car I notice the 'Christian Fish' on the back of his car. And I said to my father, 'Daddy, that man says he’s a Christian.' My very wise father looked down at me and said: 'Child, a symbol on your car doesn’t make you a Christian person, people will know you ARE a Christian by the way you act … you will NOT have to tell them you are by a mark on your car!'
"I have lived my life with that very wise and meaningful lesson taught to me over 70 years ago!"
State Rep. Ginny Ehrhart, R-west Cobb: "I think it's the unexpected lessons I learned from my dad that made the greatest impression on me. My father, like so many other fathers, was hard working, devoted to his family, full of life. He was an accomplished military officer and businessman. He was all the things you'd expect a good dad to be, although it's not the lessons he taught me in good times that I remember the most, but more the way he faced challenges. We all have challenges. Some more than others. He had his share. I'm sure my dad knew his children were watching, especially on the bad days, the days when life gives you a swift kick in the teeth. What my dad taught me was that setbacks don't define you - but they can refine you. It's okay to wallow for a little while, but not too long. Through example he taught me to analyze any problem, weigh my options, form a plan of action, and move in a new direction when needed. He never said those exact words. He just did them naturally. I was watching. Good thing I was because the next challenge is always just around the corner."
Essence Johnson's grandfather
Essence Johnson
Essence Johnson, chair, Cobb County Democratic Party: "This Father’s Day, I honor my grandfather — a man of quiet strength and unshakable integrity. A veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, he served a country that didn’t always serve him back. But through every battle — overseas and at home — he stood tall. With humility. With honor. And with a steadfast belief that his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren would inherit a freer, more just nation. Because of him, I understand that patriotism isn’t a flag pin or campaign slogan. It’s sacrifice. It’s service. It’s choosing to believe in democracy, even when it fails to believe in you.
"Today, I look around and see the very freedoms he fought for under attack — by politicians who slash veterans’ benefits, deploy troops against families, ban books, target immigrants, and wage war on the poor. My grandfather didn’t risk his life for that. He fought for freedom, not fear. For dignity, not division.
"So this Father’s Day, I say this: if we truly want to honor the men who’ve sacrificed for this nation, we must defend the values they stood for — justice, opportunity, and liberty for all.
"Grandad, thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your steady hand. I honor you — not just today, but every day."
Alice Summerour, community advocate: "My father was a remarkable man whose life taught me a powerful lesson: set a goal, work hard, and you can achieve anything. He didn’t just speak this truth — he lived it and approached every challenge with unwavering determination.
"He showed me that dreams are promises kept through effort and resilience. His example proved that setbacks are chances to grow stronger, and every small effort builds toward something greater.
"His lesson guides me: aim high, persevere, and trust the process. I hope to honor his legacy by sharing this with others—dream boldly and work tirelessly, and you’ll find no limit to what you can accomplish."
State Rep. Devan Seabaugh, R-Marietta: "My father taught me the importance of integrity and how to lead with humility and kindness. He understood that everyone carries a story and that extending compassion, especially when it seems undeserved at times, has the power to change lives. He was a great father and I miss him everyday. Happy Father's Day Papa!"
Jim Tidwell, owner, The Marietta Local: “My grandfather and grandmother were very important to me in my life, growing up in Louisiana. My grandfather told me when I was a young boy that the character of a man was very important. ‘Your character is judged by others when you don't realize they are watching,’ he said. I've always tried to act and live my life accordingly, trusting and using my Pappaw's advice!”
Brad Wheeler
Cobb Board of Education member Brad Wheeler: “My Dad was a man of integrity. Whether that was when he ran a business with the employees making sure they were paid, or with customers building houses making sure the job was done right. Things were to be done honestly, correctly and appropriately. That's the way he was. I remember a time where I was working with him and it was two minutes to five, and he gave me a broom. I was like, ‘What's that for? It's time to go. He said, ‘You've still got two minutes.’ I've appreciated it more as I've gotten older.”
Acworth Mayor Tommy Allegood: “Shortly before my Dad passed away I was spending some time with him, and he looked at me and said, ‘Son, remember that the dollars on the scoreboard are not the score of your life.’ He was explaining to me what success is all about from his viewpoint. My dad gave me the real definition of success.”
Teddy Parrish, chair of the Kennesaw State University Foundation Board of Trustees, CEO of Parrish Capital:
“On this Father’s Day I reflect on my male mentor Village consisting of my father, grandfathers and uncles. They instilled in me that whatever career path you choose, become the best at it, meaning pursue greatness, that the world is your oyster — but you cannot boil the ocean, and chivalry rivals narcissism so be a giver and not a taker. In the end, God favors those who add value and seek to leave this world in a better place.”
Marietta Board of Education member Jaillene Hunter: “My dad taught me that a strong faith can carry you through anything life brings, the importance of focusing on what truly lasts, and that real joy comes from serving others, not ourselves. Growing up, he hung wallpaper for a living, and through that, he showed me the value of hard work and quiet perseverance. And to this day, the smell of wallpaper paste still brings a smile to my face — it reminds me of my dad coming home from work!”
Derek Norton
Annie Mayne
Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton: “I've always looked up to my dad. He always does what's right and treats others with respect.
"He's taught me so much — probably the best life lessons from dad that I carry with me every day are the importance of hard work, dedication, respect and loyalty. And this Father's Day is special. He lives in Iowa and is here this weekend, and we haven't shared a Father's Day together in many years.”
Cobb Board of Education member John Cristadoro: “My father, John F. Cristadoro, instilled a ‘never quit’ attitude and refused to hear ‘no’ as an answer.”
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