Happy Father’s Day to all dads out there. This is a special day for us.

I’m going to see my dad, William Shoopman, later this week in my native Missouri. Dad’s 79 and I’ve known him 561⁄2 years. I couldn’t be prouder.

He’s alone now, ever since my mother, Marjorie Bliss Shoopman, died in February 1999. We talk about mom all the time, especially on those rare occasions when we’re bass fishing together up there.

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He was born in Picher, Okla., a town that has died because of the lead and zinc mines that brought the town prosperity before World War II but were shut down in the 1970s. The federal government eventually discovered the leftover “chat” piles loaded with heavy metals contaminated the air and groundwater in the middle of the Tar Creek Superfund Site.

Dad grew up in the same area as the late Mickey Mantle, who went on to hit home runs for the New York Yankees. Dad, who played baseball with “The Commerce (Okla.) Comet,” loves baseball to this day, along with football.

Naturally, the Royals and the Chiefs are his favorite teams. Unfortunately, neither has been winning more than losing the past few years.

What Dad, a U.S. Navy veteran, did for his first-born child, me, and two other sons and two daughters was instill in us a love for the outdoors. He’s still an inspiration.

In turn, I’ve tried to pass that on to my two sons. My wife, June, helped tremendously.

I want to share some of my favorite phrases about fatherhood:

* “Any adult who spends even 15 minutes with a child outdoors finds himself drawn back to his own childhood.” -- Sharon MacLatchie

* “A child enters your home and makes so much noise you can hardly stand it -- then departs, leaving the house so quiet you think you’ll go mad.” -- Dr. J.A. Holmes

* “As children hear their parents praying for wisdom and direction, they learn their parents can’t fix everything. I believe God designed it this way. After all, if parents were perfect, children would never sense their need for God.” -- Dr. Paul Meier

* “My father’s advice would have made me a better man if I had heeded it more often.” -- Philip Greenslade

* Dad, it would be helpful if you would look at me instead of the paper when we talk. We could finish our conversation quicker that way.” -- Jud Swets, 13, to his father

Teche Area fishermen, hunters, consider yourself forewarned.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reminds recreational fishermen and hunters that resident licenses expire June 30. Licenses for the 2009-10 season went on sale June 1 and will be valid through June 30, 2010.

Local license vendors offer recreational fishing and hunting licenses. Licenses also are available at the LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge and at the state agency’s offices in Opelousas, Pineville and Monroe.

DON SHOOPMAN is outdoors editor of The Daily Iberian.