remembrance
Share your favorite memory of your Dad
favorite Quote
What is something your dad used to say?
Greatest Lesson
Share the greatest lesson from your Dad
Post about “Dad always said”
Thank you, Bill, for the gift of your incredible book, Dad Always Said. I am loving reading it & it is no wonder he raised such an awesome son as you are. My dad was a part of that Great Generation & so much of what you share brings back so many memories. Doing what was right always prevailed with my Dad. Thank you again.
– Georgia P.
Your book brought back great memories of my grandfather. One quick story my grandfather told us all. He would sit us all down one on one on our 16th birthdays and tell us to, “Enjoy today, today is the smartest you will ever be. From here on out for the rest of your life, you will realize how much you really don’t know.”
-TJ G.
Bill, I am so glad you wrote this for all to read. Dad Always Said made me recognize that I have and do honor, my father, to the best of my ability. However, you showed me there is always more I can do, especially while they are alive. I wish I had met your dad, you wrote about him with pride. If any father reads anything close to that, they would tear their shirt off and show the big S over their chest. I feel he is beaming proud. What a great thing to do, a son to a father. All fathers deserve what you did. Thank you, Bill!
– Matt T.
I love this book!
Tracey E.
Thank you Bill for sharing your father’s wisdom through your own eyes. What a powerful testimony to the man he was. I wish I could have had the honor to meet him, but now with your book, we all can. Your writing is fun, simple, and filled to the brim with an admiration for your father that is infectious. Bill, you are a great writer and I’m looking forward to hearing about more of your stories when we are at the diamond club together 🙂
I don’t have any sayings from my own father but my grandfather used to say (translated from Farsi): “If you do one thing, you’re doing everything. But if you do everything, you’re doing nothing” and although I’m still working on living that out, it has always stuck with me
Sarah M.
Reading “Dad Always Said” made me miss growing up in my hometown.
-Ryder E.
Thank you so much, Bill, for giving me the opportunity to know just how your dad’s wisdom impacted your life.
Great book my friend!
-Lonnie A.
Hi Bill, I’m a fellow World Wide Dream Builder and always enjoy your talks; whether from stage, on an audio, or on Kate. Thank you so much for writing your book! It was wonderful to read several sayings that I personally have heard over the years and also ones that I’ve heard you say on audios and several that I never heard before. May God continue to bless you and your family!
Thanks for writing it for starters!
My father was WWII vet and was in RAF based in London making News Reels. After war he was camera man for Paramount Pictures for a time. Long story short, he really never lived with us nor supported family of five, so I didn’t have a Grant speaking into my life, more like many dead beat “uncles” but he was my dad so last time I spoke to him he told me he had regret. I asked what it was. He said “I was going on leave from Liverpool to NYC and in the busy area waiting to board ship some private came calling his name and had sign also. He identified himself to the kid and asked what he wanted. The private said he was suppose to report to HQ immediately. He asked the private why? The private said he didn’t know but he was to do this immediately. My dad said if you don’t know what it is and I’m due for leave how about I give you this $40.00 and you didn’t see me? I’m guessing $40 was allot back then and the kid took it and was off and so was my dad. Well, as it turned out, my father was suppose to be on beach filming the landing on D-Day. He said many people he knew died and years later after I watched opening scene from Saving Private Ryan it hit me that if he had not gone on leave I may not be here. So, I build this business to try and give back for the fact I’m here and have 3 daughters who love me.
Thanks again Bill for book and distant mentorship!
Bill, thanks for sharing your dad with us. I feel like I got to know him personally. Although we are from Jamaica, I heard my parents say a lot of these things as well.
My favorite quote of my dad was, “only what you do for Christ will last.”
My father-in-law was a world war two veteran. As a black man, he was discriminated against, even as a soldier, by his own countrymen, but he still fought for this country. I was blessed to have known him.
Thanks again for sharing your story.
Bill-
You signed my copy of Dad Always Said at FED, and I know I was one of thousands that you so graciously did that for. Reading your reflections on the wisdom that your dad instilled in you was priceless- and reminded me so much of my own dad and granddad. Many of your dad’s quotes were very familiar to me- I grew up hearing at least half of them! I wanted to share one that I picked up from my own Greatest Generation heritage.
Whenever my siblings and I would get into a scrap, and it was one of those that nobody was going to win… my dad would stop me and say “Don’t wrestle with a pig. You just get dirty, and the pig likes it.” He wasn’t calling my opponent a pig, of course, just painting a word picture of the futility of arguing with people.
Thanks for sharing your dad with us.
Thank you for writing this amazing book. I was not raised by the greatest generation, but definitely want to pass down this wisdom to my children. I want to live by these principles and show them with my example.
Bill
Just finished reading your book. Inspiring. Well done, and I am going to forward it too my dad, at 82 he will no doubt remince with many of your dads sayings
Chris R.
Hello Bill! I thoroughly enjoyed read “Dad Always Said”. It brought back so many memories from my childhood as we shared many similarities. My parents were born and raised in Great Britain as were your grand parents and so many of the quotes you shared just came to life for me again. Many I had forgotten and I sure had a great time remembering them once again.
For a first time book writer, your skills are remarkable. I am so glad that I read this book. It has enriched my life and I want to share it with others!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful family memories.
Hello Bill, My wife and I have been a fan of you and Sandy for many years. I haven’t done what I promised to do with this business, but haven’t quit. My dad always said “he needed a 2×4 to get my attention “. Maybe thats what I need. I love this book, and thank you very much for it. Ed C,
Dear Bill,
Thank you for writing “Dad Always Said” it’s filled with great wisdom; your dad and mom were fine representatives of the “Greatest Generation.” I thought it was so touching towards the end when you described reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 to your mom. She must have been so proud as I’m sure your dad is too. We know that he (and she) has gone before us to be with our Heavenly Father.
Looking forward to seeing you at the next major function when our paths will cross, perhaps FED?
Take care and God bless!
Having read Dad Always Said, I recognize the ditto marks in your own character and humor. You are truly an example of standing on your father’s shoulders. I enjoyed every minute of your book! I know it will help me and many other men to be much better men and Dads!
Thank you Bill for writing this book. It reminded me so much of my grandfather one of the greatest men I ever knew! Just know as I write this that I look up to you and many of you as mentors in my life and this book affirms my that my decisions are in Great hands!
Eddie C.
I grew up in a MN town of 250 people where my Grandpa lived next door and my dad partnered with him in their construction business. It was the 90s and early 2000s and I was blessed to hear most if not all of these quotes as a kid. Your thoughtful book took me back in time to working my summers with my dad and grandpa and learning more about life than any carpentry skill. Thank you for your efforts in making this book; my memories with my grandpa flooded over me again and again as we lost him last year at 93 years old. He was the Greatest Generation for sure and I feel proud to have learned so much from him.
Thank you so much for sharing this with my generation who I feel deeply needs to hear this!!
Thanks Bill for a great read. So many good memories to enjoy that are often forgotten about what our parents have done for us. I was raised on a dairy farm in a small community in Iowa and witnessed and was a part of the difficult work and long hours that my parents put in each day. I am 63 now and can definitely relate to your dad’s saying “the days are long but the years are short”. My dad was a great example to me as well, very little complaining, just went to work every day and did what had to be done. He became a Christian at age 41 and I saw him devote his life to serving God in what he did. He would take the time to share his faith even when very busy. He lost his battle with cancer at age 52 but he did the best he could with the time he was given. He raised his family to love and follow the Lord and for that I am ‘eternally’ grateful. Thank you for also including the quote “your talk talks, and your walk talks, but your walk talks more than your talk talks”, I could always use that reminder. Our dads did this well!!
What I found the most enjoyable about your book is that it explains why I frequently say the things I do because I realize I am quoting my parents! You did an amazing job of sending me back into my childhood of the 50’s and 60’s!
Thanks again,
Chris S.
Thank you Bill Hawkins for sharing what your dad taught you while growing up, with the Greatest Generation (my grandpa’s generation). I now know some of what he would have shared with us and my dad also. I appreciate you being so transparent with some of the seasons your family went through. I look forward to meeting and talking to you.
Thanks again and thank you Sandy for allowing time to create this masterpiece that my children and their children will read.
Dear Mr. Bill Hawkins,
I am writing as I have finished your book. It makes me bittersweet to finish it as I was raised, more or less, by my grandfather until I was 16. Like Grant, he too was my childhood hero and still is in many ways. I pray I am doing him proud. Reading your book touched my heart as I heard his voice again and it woke memories long past.
My grandfather passed in a similar way as Grant. After going through multiple bouts of cancer, still chipper and determined as ever to keep going, we said our goodbyes. With my grandfather his mind was willing but his body was not. I am sure that the iron will and grit of that generation they could go on for forever if that was not the case. I also remember in our last conversation that he called me Abe Lincoln as my mustache would not come in until later after he passed. My memories of many days on the lake with him and camping as some of the most vibrant in my life. He too was someone who changed lives if you just took a moment to get to know him but quiet otherwise.
So, thank you for writing this book. I hope one day I can serve and help out the community in the same way as you have. I am grateful Bill.
Very Respectfully,
Trevor H.
Bill…just finished reading your amazing book DAD ALWAYS SAID and I highly recommend it to everybody!!! It makes it very clear how and why you are the man you are and why you have the success you have!!! We grew up in the same generation and you reminded me of the many things my Grandfather used to tell me. Over the past many years, you have influenced me and many people. I can only pray that I will have the same influence on people. Just wanted to say THANKS SOOOO MUCH FOR THE AWESOME READ. I definitely am buying copies for my kids, my grandkids and friends. Again I say AWESOME READ!!! Thanks, blessings, great respect and love!!
Dave W.
Such a phenomenal book! It was beyond my expectations! Everyone needs to read this book!
This was such a powerful book especially for the younger generation to hear and learn these time tested principles and mindsets that we didn’t get to hear if we didn’t know our grandparents well.
I grew up with hearing my parents say a lot of the same quotes in your book from your dad!
Absolutely loved this book. Every young generation person should read it as a reminder to learn to live this life with integrity, honesty, caring, hard-working, and serving other people!
This book is invaluable. Thanks for writing it Bill!
It made me cry!
I pray, and hope it blesses many !
Great “among many in this book
“You can be a lot of things in life and be OK but don’t be lazy!”
Reading this book reminded me so much of my own Dad and all the wisdom he would pass down.
A good fond memory is when I would go to work with him on Saturdays just so I could be more like Dad. I used to wear his work boots around the house and I always wanted to have that morning cup of coffee with him before work just like he did.
This book is super touching and presents an amazing message about the greatest generation!
My wife Cindy bought me your book and it is a great read ! I suggested to my 13 year old grandchild to read it and he loved it ! He read it for a class assignment at St. Stephens and also did a book report on it ! He noticed a lot things in the book that I say to him in today’s world ! Thanks Bill!