Q & A: Make Room for Father

Kirk Baird

Sunday, June 18, 2000 | 11:36 a.m.

The Rev. William Cantrell Jr., or "Father Bill" as he likes to be called, has been president and CEO of the St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City since October.

The 43-year-old Episcopal priest ("the lucky kind of priest -- I get to get married") said he has been busy with the fund-raising aspects of the ranch and two other Texas campuses. All are nonprofit, nonsectarian charities that assist children who are homeless or who have been abused physically, mentally or sexually. The Boulder City ranch houses 47 children. It's difficult to picture Cantrell doing anything else. But that wasn't always the case.

Born and raised near Dallas, he graduated from Texas A&M University. After several years of financial services work, Cantrell began to feel a different calling. In 1986 he joined seminary school. The following year he met his future wife, Cathy, and in 1989 he became an ordained priest. After serving in parishes in Texas and California, as well as being a Navy chaplain, Cantrell and his family, including his son, Charles, settled in Monterey, Calif. When the Rev. Herbert Ward, the longtime president and CEO of the Boulder City ranch, departed last year to become president of the newly formed St. Jude's Foundation, a search for a replacement began. Cantrell, who knew Ward, was put at the top of the list.

Cantrell recently talked about what it means to be a father in honor of Father's Day:

Las Vegas Sun: What have you learned from your role as a father at home that you have applied to your role as a father at the ranch?

The Rev. William Cantrell Jr.: My son has definitely taught me that what I do and how I say what I say is oftentimes more important than what I say. He also has taught me, as any child does for a parent, the level of influence I truly have in his life by emulating me in so many ways -- sometimes positive and sometimes in ways I wish I didn't have to acknowledge.

During my time in the Navy I was gone from my son for sometimes six months at a time during deployment. I watched the effect that had on him, which was very hard. It was a real hardship for my family. It gave me a glimpse at what these children must feel like, looking from their eyes and their perspective, what it must be like to have the harsh realities of abandonment and neglect.

Even though I wrote to him, even though I called him, even though I constantly reminded him I loved him, I wasn't there. My wife was almost like a single parent. He taught me about the unseen and unrecognized influence a parent and a father has.

Sun: Is this a position you'd rather not have?

WC: The ideal situation would be for all of us (at the Boulder City ranch) to be out of a job. If there was no need for St. Jude's we should all celebrate and go find another job somewhere. ... That's the goal, that's our prayer.

Sun: What are some success stories from the ranch?

WC: We have one (former resident) graduating from Harvard University with straight A's, and one graduated from Texas Tech University. We have three former children of the ranch (who) are at (the) University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Sun: Would that have been possible if they had not come to the ranch?

WC: Possibly yes, probably no. I say that because one of the greatest contributions we can make to the children, if we are successful here, we would have given them enough confidence in themselves that they can rise above the welfare mentality and that they can gain enough courage to be pro-active in breaking the cycle of abuse in their own families. Those are the two greatest hurdles for them in their lives, and if they break those, then they may have enough confidence to think, "I might be able to make it. I might be able to get a college education. I might be able to get married and have my own children."

But they're scared to death to do those things when they first come here because they don't have any confidence to do it. So I think, yes, because they were at St, Jude's, they built up their confidence, their esteem, their courage and now, as a result, they've risen above these things and done quite well.

Sun: Who were your role models?

WC: One of the greatest role models in my life is a great-uncle who died at the age of 87 as a bachelor. He was a great role model because he was a great listener and he listened with caring. He spoke few words, but he was a gentle man. He probably had as much of an effect on all the children in my family as anyone.

Sun: What does it take to be a good father?

WC: A willingness to listen. A willingness to recognize and acknowledge the importance of the interest of your children, even though you may have no interest yourself in the subject. In addition to that: time. Today our lives are so busy, every moment seems to be occupied by some task, (that there is) no greater gift we can give to our children than our time and our attention. You can buy them gifts and cars, but I don't think you can have more influence on developing your children's character than simply through spending time with them.