"The quality time I spend with my kids sharing my family values is the most important thing to me about being a smart father," said Atlanta Hawks player and NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo. "I appreciate the guidance my father showed me, especially raising 10 kids in Africa. Now I am raising my own child, along with my brothers and sisters kids from Africa, here in the States. Although times have changed, I use the basic examples of respect, understanding and caring that my father showed me and am still able to have a positive influence on my kids' lives."

Holiday Inn Express will fly the Grand-Prize winner, and a parent or legal guardian to Orlando, Fla. for a four-day getaway to the Walt Disney World(R) theme parks, and he or she will also receive a personal computer. The Grand- Prize includes round-trip coach airfare to Orlando International Airport; three-night hotel accommodations at a Holiday Inn Express hotel (one standard room); four-day rental of a full-size car provided by Hertz; and four-day admission to the Walt Disney World(R) Magic Kingdom(R) Park, Epcot(R), Disney- MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom(R). Three First-Prize winners also will be selected and will receive personal computers as their prizes.

"Throughout history, fathers have demonstrated their smarts as originators of Ideas, leadership and love," said Tom Seddon, vice president of marketing for Holiday Inn Express. "The contest provides an opportunity for children across the country to express their gratitude for their fathers and put into words how much their fathers really mean to them."

A judging panel of principals from leading schools across the country will select the winners based on the following: originality (0-20 points), creativity of expression relative to age (0-20 points), presentation relative to age (0-20 points) and relevance to Smartest Father in the Nation theme (0- 40 points). All winners will be announced on June 13, in honor of Father's Day.

Children can enter the contest by submitting his or her essay on the Holiday Inn Express Smartest Father in the Nation Contest Web site at www.smartestfather.com, or by sending the entry to Holiday Inn Express Smartest Father in the Nation Contest, c/o GCI Group, Suite 700, 1355 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. The following information must be provided with the essay: child's name, age, address (including city, state and zip code), home telephone number (including area code) and his or her father's name. All entries must be received no later than May 19, 2000 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time.

For more detailed contest rules and information, visit www.smartestfather.com or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address above.