ROBERT BACKER of Norfolk

Nominated by Stephanie Backer of Norfolk, who wrote:

What makes a good father? Anybody can father a child, but it is an entirely different thing to be a father to a child. A father can be any man who is loving; patient; takes care of his family; teaches his children good morals and lives them out himself.

My father, Rob Backer, meets all of these qualifications. His own father wasn't around a lot of the time to be a model for him to learn from, but he has risen above that and has become the father that my brother and I need. My father is loving and kind. He's patient as he teaches us everything from being a servant of God, to fixing machinery, to helping my brother and I with our homework.

My father is an unbelievably hard worker and provides above and beyond for our needs. He also sacrifices for his family. There have been a number of times when my dad needed new shoes or his clothes were raggedy, but he went without so that his family's needs could be met.

Besides being there for his family, he goes out of his way to help others. My cousins' father left when they were very young; my dad has stepped in and been like a father to all of them. When their house burnt down, he took them all in and they lived with us for about a year.

My father also volunteers his time at our church. He has been seen painting, cleaning, building, or fixing various items there. Our church bus broke down and my father worked for days, through the night even, to get it running before we had to leave again. He drives the bus for our sports teams, sometimes for a week at a time. Driving and chaperoning our youth group at summer Bible camps for three years also can be added to his list of voluntary work.

My dad was president of the school board for seven years at the country school where my brother and I attended. He did all that he could to prevent the big cities from taking over our school and when it was taken over, he continued to serve on the advisory committee.

This past fall our neighbors' camper exploded. The woman who lives there couldn't find her husband. My dad rushed in, with no thought of his own danger, and got him out. After seeing the man to safety, he helped to put the fire out. Rob Backer is an amazing father. When I was little I thought that he was a super hero. Now that I'm older I realize that he doesn't have super powers and he's not without faults, but if being a great father was a super power, he'd have Flash Gordon, the Hulk, and Superman all beat.

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