Father’s Day is a special day for me in two different ways.

First, I celebrate the privilege of being a father myself to twin daughters. Second, I remember my own father, who left us 32 years ago.

My daughters gave me a very special Father’s Day present this year. It was a collection of some of my favorite junk food, along with photos of me at their weddings. Walking Allison and Mary down the aisle will always be among the best memories of my life.

Being a dad is special under any circumstance. It is even more meaningful when “daddy’s little girls” grow up to become outstanding young women. Allison and Mary have done exactly that, and now they are wonderful mothers themselves.

I am also fortunate to have two outstanding sons-in-law, Jacob Lewis and Tyler Cahill. They deserve to celebrate this day as well. They are the best dads my grandkids could have.

Then there are the memories of my own father.

Dad left us at the far-too-young age of 64, but he left behind a legacy that continues through his six children and a very special collection of grandchildren.

My dad was known for many things, but one aspect of his life that should never be forgotten is the work he put into the credit union movement. He firmly believed in the idea of people joining together to form a nonprofit financial institution designed to serve its members.

During the early 1950s, when he first started working at the Army Finance Center at 56th Street and Post Road in Lawrence, now known as DFAS, he immediately volunteered to serve on the credit committee at the Finance Center Federal Credit Union.

It is hard to imagine now, but at that time, credit unions like Finance Center offered little more than savings accounts and car loans. Today, credit unions are full-service financial institutions, offering many of the same services banks provide.

My dad quickly moved onto the board of directors for Finance Center Federal and remained there until shortly before his passing. He served as board president during an important period when credit unions were being allowed to expand the services they offered and the people they could serve.

He also led the board when construction began on the headquarters building on 56th Street, near I-465, across from Lawrence Central High School. That building remains the headquarters for what is now known as Financial Center First Credit Union, which currently operates under a state rather than federal charter.

I could write hundreds of words about what my dad accomplished in his life. But for this Father’s Day, suffice it to say that Bernie Lannan believed deeply in the credit union concept and supported his own credit union with countless hours of volunteer service on its board of directors.

Had he served on the board of a commercial bank, he likely would have been paid for that work. Bernie Lannan was satisfied to do it as a volunteer.

So, to all fathers, happy Father’s Day 2026. Enjoy your special day.