Meet the American who founded Father's Day, Sonora Smart Dodd, daughter of Civil War veteran and devoted dad

Sonora Smart Dodd, the daughter of a twice-widowed Civil War veteran dad, was inspired by his example to found the first Father's Day in Spokane, Washington.

Meet the American who earned the Medal of Honor and was MIA in Korea for 73 years, Cpl. Luther Herschel Story

Cpl. Luther Herschel Story earned the Medal of Honor in the Korean War in 1950 but had been missing in action for 73 years. He returns to a hero's welcome this week.

Meet the American who unlocked the science of gender, Nettie Stevens, female research pioneer

Nettie Stevens was a pioneer of genetics research, proving that sexual identity was a hereditary trait passed through chromosomes — and not determined by environment.

Meet the American who made Easter sweeter, legendary chocolate bunny salesman Robert Lincoln Strohecker

Robert Strohecker, a confection salesman from Pennsylvania, is dubbed "Father of the Chocolate Easter Bunny" for popularizing German tradition in United States.

Meet the American who is the 'true father of baseball,' New York City physician Daniel 'Doc' Adams

Meet the American who is called the "true father of baseball," Daniel "Doc" Adams, a New York City physician who made major contributions to the sport at all levels in the mid-1800s.

Meet the American who designed the Empire State Building, New York City native architect William F. Lamb

William F. Lamb was a New York City native architect charged during the Great Depression with designing the tallest building in the world. It proved an incredible success.

Meet the American who fought and bled at the Alamo but lived to tell its heroic tale: Slave Joe

The heroic history of the Alamo was handed down to Americans by an enslaved man named Joe. He fought and bled in the Battle of the Alamo but miraculously lived to tell about it.

Meet the American who invented the zipper, one of the world's most useful devices: Whitcomb Judson

Whitcomb Judson of Chicago invented the clasp-locker in 1893, now known today as the zipper. It revolutionized fashion and is now one of the most common devices in the world.

Meet the American who first recorded the blues, nation's original pop diva Mamie Smith

Vaudeville performer Mamie Smith recorded "Crazy Blues" in 1920, widely regarded as the first recorded blues hit. The success of American blues inspired rock 'n' roll.

Meet the American who invented Band-Aids: cotton buyer and devoted husband Earle Dickson

Earle Dickson invented the Band-Aid in 1921. A cotton buyer for Johnson & Johnson, he was inspired to create the new product to treat's wife household wounds.