My father, Harold McCracken, was known as "The Answer Man". After serving in the Marines, he began his career in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with Bonneville Lumber Company.
Bonneville was eventually acquired by Anderson Lumber. Staying with this same business until his retirement, he worked from the bottom up to a position as "Construction Sales Manager". He was well known throughout the community for his expertise, honesty, friendliness, and work ethic.
Anderson Lumber Company had an advertising campaign which featured "The Answer Man", and Dad was the obvious embodiment of the campaign in the Idaho Falls office. One of the time slots for the lumber company's radio ads was during my morning bus ride to Central Junior High School. "Contact the Answer Man at Anderson Lumber Company for all of your remodeling, repair, and construction needs!" the radio announcer would bellow.
I must confess that I didn't stand up and proudly announce to the students on the bus that I knew "The Answer Man" or that I'd just sat across the breakfast table from him (it's important to be anonymous in junior high school). But my friends knew my secret and would grin in my direction and tease, "And right here folks is "The Answer Daughter"!" Even if I didn't claim the fame of being connected to "The Answer Man", there was a certain degree of satisfaction and pride to know that I was. 
One morning when I was sitting near the front of the bus, the driver told me that Dad was the only person he knew who could add a row of double figures more quickly in his head than an adding machine. Of course adding machines in that day required punching numbers and then cranking a side lever for each entry, but nevertheless, Dad was pretty quick with calculations in his head.
The title of "The Answer Man" actually fits my dad perfectly.
He does know the answers, especially the answers to the really important questions in life, and I'm proud to claim him now that the shyness of junior high has worn off.
