TV Guide once released the list of the 50 greatest TV dads of all time.
(See the entire list at http://wiki.answers.com/Q/TV_Guide_top_50_TV_dad's_of_all_time ) Not surprisingly, Cliff Huxtable of “the Cosby Show” came in at number one. A sentimental choice for sure, and Bill Cosby is a show biz legend. Ben Cartwright was number two. Not being a fan of “Bonanza”, I really can’t comment on this selection. I do have some things to say about some of the other choices, however.

Tim Taylor of “Home Improvement” came in at number 20 while Ray Barone of “Everybody Loves Raymond” came in at number 10. “Raymond” is definitely the funnier show, but is the lead character really a better dad than Taylor, the quintessential sons’ dad? Herman Munster at number 19… really? And would anyone really prefer to have been raised by Archie Bunker (#24) than by Ward Cleaver (#28)? I suppose these debates are the fun of lists of this kind.

I was particularly struck by the choice for #3: John Walton Sr. from “The Waltons”. This family drama set during the Depression came out when I was in fifth grade, and I was a big fan for a few years. By middle school - and certainly by high school - I lost interest in the show as it then struck me as extremely slow moving. Recently, however, Sue has gotten the entire series on DVD, and I now see that this is a truly high quality show: historically accurate, well acted, and in later years Erin Walton was really cute.

Mostly, though, I realize that John Walton not only deserves to be on the list of great TV dads, he deserves to be number one. He’s firm but loving with his seven kids, encourages his children toward independence, strives determinedly to do better for his family, struggles with self doubt without being wishy-washy, has a full range of emotions, gives dads permission to experience anger without becoming abusive, and - for 1970’s family hour TV – he acts surprisingly sexy toward his wife (and only his wife). John Walton is not a fan of organized religion, but supports his wife as she raises the kids Baptist. Yet John Walton’s moral compass points directly toward the golden rule, and often shows better Christian virtue than many of the church going locals on Walton’s Mountain.

It has been a lot of fun getting reacquainted with the Walton clan. It’s refreshing to see a TV father who is not a clown (Cliff Huxtable) or a buffoon (Steven Keaton), but is also not perfect (Charles Ingalls) or squeaky clean (Mike Brady). I see a bit of my own dad in John Walton Sr., and a bit of myself, too. I guess I could do worse.