A comprehensive historical account of Father's Day, illustrating its protracted and challenging path to national recognition in the United States. It highlights early local commemorations, such as Grace Golden Clayton's memorial service, but emphasizes the pivotal role of Sonora Smart Dodd's persistent advocacy in establishing the modern holiday. The article details the societal resistance Father's Day faced, including skepticism and perceptions of commercialism, and how economic pressures during the Great Depression ironically transformed commercialism into a catalyst for its widespread acceptance. Finally, it traces the official recognition through presidential endorsements leading to its permanent national holiday status in 1972, concluding with a look at its evolving traditions and global adaptations.