Father’s Day is a good time to reflect not just on what a dad does, but who he is.
Growing up with Chuck Muth as a father meant growing up with a front-row seat to what the American dream really takes: it’s fueled by conviction, consistency, and an entrepreneurial work ethic you can’t fake.
Personal responsibility wasn’t just something he talked about, it was something he expected from himself first.
Do what you say you’re going to do. Your word matters.
Homeschooling wasn’t just about textbooks.
He made American history come alive, connecting the dots between the founding principles of this country and what was happening in America at the time.
He also didn’t separate family life from his work; he invited us into it.
More than stuffing envelopes and shutting up in the back seat when someone important called on a road trip, I sat in on marketing meetings and assisted at his events.
Today, I work for the organization he built.
One of his favorite quotes is:
“We do what we have to do, so we can do what we want to do.”
That’s how he’s balanced work and family life, built a career on his own terms, and managed to bring us along for the ride, literally and figuratively. Every day was “take your kid to work day.”
When one of us scraped a knee or got banged up during a game? “Rub a little dirt in it.”
Not because he didn’t care, but because he believed in toughness. In learning to get back up and keep going, even when it stings.
That’s the kind of father he was and still is. Not coddling, not perfect, but dependable and principled.
The kind of man who built something lasting not just in his career, but in his kids.
Another of his favorite phrases:
“A man has got to know his limitations.”
Drywall? Electrical? Plumbing? Not his thing. And he’d be the first to tell you that.
And while he may not know which breaker to flip, he knows how to build trust, guide people, and make complicated things more simple.
This Father’s Day, I’m not just celebrating a good dad.
I’m honoring a man who lives what he teaches, who raised a family while raising the bar in Nevada politics, and who shows us that leadership isn’t about doing it all, it’s about knowing what matters and showing up for it.
He’s good at what he’s good at, and fortunately, that includes being a dad.
