Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey Wishes All Dads a Happy Father's Day, Pays Tribute to His Father

Happy Father's Day

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – In 1997, I lost my father to cancer, and in doing so, I lost the best friend, mentor, teacher, leader and superhero I ever had! ! My father may never have realized it, but he meant every one of those things to me and I will forever miss him in my life.

My father was my best friend until the day he died, but he never let being my best friend stop him from being my parent.

As a best friend, my father encouraged me to be loyal to the end, to drop what I was doing to help someone, to listen to other people's problems, and to understand that being a best friend was a honor and an incredible gift.

As a mentor, my father showed me how to work hard, always strive to be the best, be a gentleman, treat others with respect, and understand that “just how hard you work doesn't mean you'll succeed.” , is if you don't work hard, you can't succeed.

As a teacher, my father taught me the importance of being a good father, how to build things, how to break them, how to laugh, and how to hopefully make others laugh so that everyone benefits of life.

My father also taught me to love what you do so you never go to work, but just do something you love.

As a leader, the most important thing my father ever showed me was how to be part of a team.

Yes, every team has a leader, but to be the leader you must first be part of the team, and to do that you must show that you are willing to work as hard as everyone else, and to take equal credit for losses. because you would be willing to take credit for victories and ensure that each part of the team is as strong as the other.

As a superhero, in my eyes, Dad could do everything better than anyone!! He could throw a ball further, build something better, drive faster or win any game we played. He was a real superhero but he never wore a cape, but sometimes pants with his shirt tucked in, work clothes, suspenders, nail apron, tool belt, and sometimes if we had luckily on the weekend he wore a barbecue. apron.

I'm not sure my father ever truly realized that he meant all of these things to me, but what I do know for sure is that as a father, he knew that I needed him to be all these things for me!!

So today, as your children celebrate Father's Day with you, I ask you to remember that it doesn't matter if you are a dad, stepfather, grandfather or someone who enters the life of a child who needs a dad, you are everything to them… a best friend, a mentor, a teacher, a leader and their superhero!! No other job in the world is more important, more challenging or more rewarding!

Happy Father's Day!

– Sheriff Wayne Ivey