In the late 1960s or early 1970s, Tulsa-born-and-raised musician David Gates created the song “Everything I Own,” which became a Top 10 hit for his group “Bread.”

Ostensibly, the lyrics seemed to suggest another boy-feels-the-blues-about-a-lost-love offering. 

The first few lines stated: 

“You sheltered me from harm 

Kept me warm, kept me warm 

You gave my life to me.” 

The song proceeds to indicate the loved one is gone and out of contact. 

Part of the main chorus states: 

“I would give everything I own 

Just to have you back again.” 

The theme continues to talk about the positives of the loved ones and sadness of their departure. 

Gates revealed after the song’s release the subject was his father, who had passed away some half-dozen years — when Gates was about 23 — before Gates began to earn major commercial and artistic success. 

Inspired by his father’s support and wisdom, Gates created and sang “Everything I Own.” 

The impact of a caring father can influence a child for good long after childhood is vanished. 

As a Father’s Day tribute, several area individuals involved in sports paid tributes to their dads. 

The presentation includes two brothers (Criss and Randy Davis) each recalling their dad, retired Copan High boys basketball coach Kevin Foreman talking about his dad, and Kevin’s daughter Kendall Huntington talking about Kevin.

“He set us boys down and we each had five pieces of paper and he asked us to number them one through five. He told us to write down that No. 1, God is first in our life, No. 2 is family and No. 3 is your education. He said you can put whatever you want on No. 4 or No. 5. … That’s the way he wanted us to live our life. … He was always there for us. Dad would always go to Wichita and paint houses for the summer but he’d come home on Friday nights for our baseball games. … My brothers and I have talked about how in the world he made so much time for us, being a coach like he was and influencing so many lives. It never felt like we were on the backburner. … It was amazing he was such a great dad when he had a commitment to so many kids he coached. He always had time for us. We were just the luckiest boys around.”

Former Bartlesville Sports Commission Chairman

“The thing my did that impressed me the most and helped me the most was how he taught me the value of hard work. … I think most the work he did with people was with a handshake and not a contract. He was probably the hardest-working man I’ve ever been around in my life. … When he’d say something, he’d do it. I think that’s the way my dad helped me be who I am more than any single thing.” 

“My dad taught me do to good to people. He taught me to treat them right and with consideration, which is what he did. He also was very funny, which how I think I got some of my sense of humor. I loved him to death and I miss him every day.” 

“He had that heart attack and stroke a couple of summers back and I remember after talking to him he told me, ‘You know, if it’s my time to go I’ve lived a good life. I’ve been happy.’ … That really resonated with me. It made me think if it were my time have I done that? I’ve tried to do things to make me happy. Making my family happy makes me happy. … I remember this was past Christmas. He always had this Boston Celtics hoodie and always wore it. I told him, ‘The only thing I want from you if something happens is I want that hoodie.’ At Christmas, he wrapped it up and gave it to me. … I bawled like a baby.”

“Probably one of his greatest strengths is his work ethic. He told me make sure no one else outworks you. If you’re in charge of something, you’ve got to put the most amount of work in. … He also taught us that you can’t ever any anyone to do something you’re not willing to do yourself. He’s over 80 years old and he still outworks me every day. He’s a machine that cannot be stopped. He’s been a youth director his entire life. … There’s no job he won’t do, cleaning toilets, unclogging toilets, taking out the trash, dusting, mopping. He taught us there is no job that is underneath you. … To not be so prideful of your title or your position.”

“We’re a family of coaches, my dad being the winningest coach in history in the state of Kansas, to my knowledge. The three of us followed in his footsteps. … Back in 1990, the year I won my first state championship (softball) at Copan, we played state in Oklahoma City and my dad was there. That meant a lot to me, as great a coach as he was, for him to be able to watch me have success. What made this state championship even more special is that as we drove back on the bus to Copan that night — we got back at about 2 a.m. — there was one person there in the parking lot and that was my dad, to give us a welcome back. … It was something I’ve never forgot, never will. … The best piece of advice he gave me … was that every athlete sometimes deserves to get their rears chewed, but what the kids remember is the last thing you told them. He said you chew them out when they need it, but say something positive when you’re done.”

Dewey High boys basketball coach

“He was a teacher and a coach when I was born. He just retired from being a principal. He hit every realm in administration and coach football and basketball. I loved it when I was a little kid. I loved how the guys looked up to him. My parents went through a divorce … but my dad was always there. He’s always around and always calling. He’s a big part of my life, and big part of who I am and what I am. Just at the end of this school year … He went with a group of guys tn Lake Texoma on a guided fishing tour. He took me with him and I enjoyed that. I’m big on driving and listening to music and listening to conversation. We had a big talk. It was fun. … It’s nice to do that with my dad in his 70s and him still building me up like I was the young one.”

Former Copan High boys basketball coach

“He was a professional rodeoer which is where I kind of got my cowboy background. He loved sports and so did my mother. My father was the ultimate team-type guy. Growing up he would tell me, you want to strive to be the best player on the floor or on the field. … As I got a little bit older I kind of figured out what he meant. If I was trying to be the best I could be and my teammates were trying to be the best they could be we would have a pretty good team. … He taught me you’ve got to be accountable for yourself. He went to all my ball games until he passed away six years ago at 84. I was on a PBR tour but I stopped in the middle and came home after he had a stroke. He had kind of taken a bad turn, but he told me, ‘I’ve had 84 years and only one bad week. That’s not too bad.’”