With Father’s Day around the corner, the Senior Center of South Pearl River County honored local fathers at the center on Thursday.

The center provided lunch and gifts to numerous fathers and grandfathers.

“We just think it’s very important to recognize the men that come out here and what they have done as fathers,” said Kathleen Penton, the center’s participants coordinator.

The center also honored mothers on Mother’s Day in May, Penton said.

During Thursday’s event, fathers and grandfathers were honored through stories recounted by their sons and daughters.

“My father worked hard and even when he got disabled he paid attention to us and would take us down to the river to go swimming,” Russell Foster said. “Now, I’m a father with two sons who are both adults now.”

Senior Betty Brown proudly shared stories about her father, who passed away years ago.

“My father was the greatest. I’m the oldest of eight children and he never told us no. He always would try to work something out and help us,” Brown said.

Father’s Day wasn’t an official holiday until 1966 while Mother’s Day was established in 1914. According to USA.gov, former President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. However, the proclamation wasn’t permanent until 1972.

According to the website, Sonora Dodd from Spokane, Wash. came up with the idea for Father’s Day.  Dodd urged local churches to honor their fathers and as a result the town celebrated the first Father’s Day in 1910.  The holiday is celebrated in June to honor Dodd’s father’s birthday.

This year, Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 21.