Father of the Year - It was Father's Day 1970. My youngest brother Joseph had just been born a few months earlier on March 1st. This brought the grand total of kids in my family to seven. Queen of Peace had the annual Father's Day pancake breakfast in the large hall after 9 AM Sunday Mass. The large hall had a stage, benches around the perimeter of the hall, a large tile hard floor, and four beams holding up the Church above us. These beams were covered with a golden-colored sculptured rug to protect the kids since the large hall also served as our gym. The pastor was Monsignor Kowalek; he came after Bishop Brzana and before Father John Gabalski. Every year, there would be an award for "Father of the Year" which always went to the father with the largest family. Mr. Barney (Buczkowski) always won because he had eight children. That year, he asked that the award pass him by and go to my Dad, Victor; father of Mike, John, Victor, Mary, Jimmy, Danny, & Joseph. So that year, my Dad got to be "Father of the Year". That was the best time!
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© JAK - 2002