It seems like yesterday I was helping my dad put new brake pads on or change the oil in his Lincoln Town Car. He loved those Town Cars. He was always working on a car or repairing something. My parents divorced when I was two. I would visit him at his house in La Vergne. He loved cars and motorcycles—even riding a Honda Gold Wing in his 60s. Everyone who knew my late father knew he was a very straightforward man and often opinionated. He could impress a sailor with his cuss words. He served in WWII, enlisting in the Army Air Corps, which later became the United States Air Force. He went on to fight in Germany, flying 24 bombing missions in a B-17 Flying Fortress.
Although my father was very difficult—possibly battling PTSD—I at least had a father who taught me valuable lessons: to always keep your word and to stay out of debt. I’m sure his experience growing up during the Great Depression contributed to how much he hated debt. He despised debt and would warn me weekly to stay out of it. He did help me start my first business at 21—Hardbodies Fitness Center. I had saved $10,000, but still needed $10,000, and the local banks wouldn’t help me, so I offered him a 10% return on his investment. He also helped me get started with my first car—a ’69 Camaro that needed much work. I saved money to restore the car by working at the Omni Hut Restaurant for $1.50 an hour, where I started at 13. He taught me to show up on time (which I still fall short of) and to learn how to do things on my own—whether it was replacing a starter on my 1968 Camaro or rebuilding the 1976 Pontiac Firebird that I purchased from my father’s best friend, Dale Holmes, for $900 and later sold for $3000, making a decent profit at 19.
Father’s Day serves as more than just a celebration of paternal figures—it’s a vital reminder of the profound impact fathers and positive male role models have on children’s development. As we honor fathers across the nation, my recent legislative efforts like House Joint Resolution 131 in Tennessee highlight an urgent need to address the growing crisis of fatherlessness in America and the critical importance of male mentorship in shaping young lives. To be honest, I think most leaders are not paying attention to the fatherless crisis—possibly worrying about the political correctness we see today. I’m often reminded of the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
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The Fatherlessness Crisis: A National Emergency
The statistics surrounding fatherlessness in America paint a sobering picture that demands immediate attention. The United States holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest rate of children in single-parent households of any nation in the world. This crisis affects millions of families and communities across the country.
The scope of this challenge is staggering:
• Over 18 million children in the United States are growing up without fathers
• Fathers are absent from approximately 80% of single-parent homes
• Fatherless families are four times more likely to live in poverty than married-couple families
• The United States leads the world in single-parent households, a statistic that should concern every American
The Devastating Impact on Children’s Lives
The absence of fathers creates ripple effects that extend far beyond the immediate family unit, affecting children’s academic performance, mental health, and future prospects. The data reveals alarming trends that underscore the critical need for positive male influence in children’s lives.
Educational and Behavioral Consequences
Children without fathers face significant educational challenges. They are two to three times more likely to be expelled or suspended from school, and when children have an actively involved father, they are 33% less likely to drop out of school and 43% more likely to earn A’s. These statistics highlight how father involvement directly correlates with academic success.
The behavioral impact is equally concerning. Eighty-five percent of children who exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes, while 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from single-parent homes. Most adolescents who enter the justice system have suffered from parental abandonment, substance abuse, or dysfunctional household environments.
Mental Health and Safety Concerns
The mental health implications of fatherlessness are profound and far-reaching. Children from single-parent families are twice as likely to suffer from mental health problems as those living with married parents. The statistics become even more alarming when examining suicide rates, with 63% of youth suicides occurring in fatherless homes.
Children in single-parent homes are more likely to experience low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and have more suicidal thoughts and attempts. This mental health crisis extends to homelessness, with 84% of homeless families headed by women and 90% of homeless and runaway children coming from fatherless homes.
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Long-term Life Outcomes
The absence of fathers significantly impacts children’s future relationships and life choices. Girls who feel closeness to their father are 75% less likely to have a teen birth, while one study showed that girls whose fathers left the home before age five were eight times more likely to become pregnant as adolescents.
Children who feel closeness to their father are 80% less likely to spend time in jail, demonstrating the protective factor that positive father involvement provides. Additionally, fatherless children are more likely to abuse drugs and show signs of delinquent behavior, creating cycles that can persist across generations.
The Power of Positive Male Role Models
Research consistently demonstrates that fathers and male mentors play vital roles in promoting children’s physical health, initiative, and self-control. The presence of positive male figures in children’s lives creates measurable improvements across multiple areas of development.
I, along with other state lawmakers were proud to sponsor House Joint Resolution 131, where I shared a personal example of this impact: “My father grew up in the Great Depression and honorably served in World War II, flying 24 bombing raids over Germany. He taught me the value of hard work, fiscal responsibility, and how to do more with less.” Good fathers share essential life values and skills that shape character and future success in the next generation.
A RESOLUTION to raise awareness of the importance of positive
male role models and mentorship opportunities
in schools, nonprofit organizations, and faith-
based organizations.
Children with positive male figures tend to perform better academically, exhibit improved social skills, and experience fewer behavioral issues. The research indicates that male role models provide unique contributions to child development that complement but cannot be replaced by other influences.
Legislative Action: House Joint Resolution 131
Recognizing the severity of this crisis, Tennessee has taken proactive steps through House Joint Resolution 131, which aims to raise awareness about the critical role of positive male role models and mentorship opportunities for children. The resolution specifically targets educational settings, nonprofit organizations, and faith-based groups as key venues for establishing male mentorship programs.
“Declining mental health and broken families pose a serious threat to the well-being and future success of Tennessee children,” Representative Sparks explained. “Positive male role models and less time online are ways to ensure students across the state have access to opportunities and skill sets that will help them succeed.”
The resolution addresses the reality that over 17 million children in the United States are raised in single-mother households, which often results in a lack of male involvement in their education. By advocating for the establishment and expansion of mentorship programs, the legislation seeks to connect children with positive male role models who can provide guidance, support, and encouragement.
The Solution: Community-Based Mentorship
House Joint Resolution 131 calls for collaborative efforts between schools, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations to create mentorship opportunities tailored to children lacking male role models. This comprehensive approach recognizes that addressing fatherlessness requires community-wide commitment and resources.
The resolution emphasizes several key benefits of male mentorship programs, including educational success, improved self-esteem, and enhanced career exploration opportunities. By placing more male role models in schools and classrooms, these programs can provide consistent, positive influences that help fill the void left by absent fathers.
During legislative discussions, House members shared personal experiences about the influence of male role models, highlighting how mentorship can transform lives and create pathways to success that might otherwise remain closed to children from fatherless homes.
The Broader Implications
The tragic reality of school violence also connects to this crisis. In a study of 56 school shootings, only 10 of the shooters (18%) were raised in stable homes with both biological parents, while 82% grew up in either unstable family environments or without both biological parents together. This correlation underscores how family stability and father presence contribute to overall community safety and well-being.
In examining juvenile delinquency patterns, a study of 75 juvenile delinquents found that 66% experienced fatherlessness, 20% had never lived with their father, and 25% had an alcoholic father. These statistics demonstrate how father absence creates vulnerabilities that can lead to destructive life paths.
Moving Forward: A Call to Action
Father’s Day should serve as more than a celebration—it should be a rallying cry for communities to recognize and address the fatherlessness crisis affecting millions of American children. The evidence is clear: fathers and positive male role models make a profound difference in children’s lives, affecting everything from academic performance to mental health, from behavioral development to future life outcomes.
The success of initiatives like House Joint Resolution 131 depends on widespread community engagement. Schools, churches, nonprofit organizations, and individual citizens must recognize their role in providing positive male influences for children who lack them at home. This might involve volunteering as mentors, supporting mentorship programs financially, or simply being positive role models in daily interactions with young people.
As we celebrate Father’s Day, we must also commit to ensuring that every child has access to the guidance, support, and positive influence that fathers and male mentors provide. The statistics are sobering, but they also point toward clear solutions. By prioritizing male mentorship and supporting legislative efforts that promote positive male involvement in children’s lives, we can begin to address this crisis and create brighter futures for millions of American children.
The time for action is now. The children depending on positive male role models cannot wait for perfect conditions or complete solutions. They need mentors, advocates, and communities willing to step up and fill the void that absent fathers have left behind. In doing so, we honor not just the fathers we celebrate on Father’s Day, but also the potential fathers, mentors, and leaders these children can become with proper guidance and support.
