Happy Father’s Day From Henry Harris

In celebration of Father's Day on Sunday June 17, we asked Patch readers to write a letter to their father and let us deliver it. This is Henry Harris's letter to his dad:

My Dad was the best man I knew. He was smart, funny, charming, a follower of Christ and the best dad that anyone could ask for. He was a very successful businessman as well. He was a great ball player himself but an even better coach and father. He was an inspiration to our family and anyone who knew him.

He helped me become the Christian I am today and was always there for our family in the good times and the bad. He was always a pleasure to be around and someone you could always count on to make you laugh. He taught me and my siblings how to play sports. He coached every sport you could think of including baseball, soccer, golf, basketball volleyball, football and even cross country.

He taught me how to be a successful entrepreneur. I remember this one time I had to sell chocolate bars for a fundraiser — I went out the first day and didn't sell anything. Then the second day, I asked him how I sell this item. He told me be confident when your selling and make them believe they need this item. Then he made me practice my lines until I got them right. After I practiced my lines I went out and sold a whole box of 60 chocolate bars in one day. That's when I realized my Dad could sell anything. He also taught me that hard work is the key to success.

When my Dad was faced with trials he always found a way to overcome them. When his business moved out of the country, he didn't wait around on a job opening — he faced the trial head-on and started his own business, turning nothing into a very successful business.

He always was that guy that calmed everyone down. I remember when my mom would get extremely mad at me because I was always goofing off and misbehaving. My dad would take me upstairs and say, “Stop driving your mother crazy and be the sweetheart I know you are.”

I remember when me, my brother and my dad would play football in the front yard. My nickname was Big Bull and my brother’s was The Beast. This one time I was about to score the game winning touchdown, but I tripped and fell on my face. From that day forward they would joke around with me saying, “Big Bull got beat up by little grass.” We had many experiences together all fun and some stupid but whenever we all were together it was always an exciting adventure.

He was the biggest inspiration in my life and was the kind of father, friend and husband I want to be when I grow up. I know that those are big footsteps to follow, but I hope to be as good as him one day.

—Henry Harris

See all Father's Day letters here.

Image Credit: Jessica Harris