A 1969 cross-sectional sample of adolescent males in the Fort Wayne, Indiana public schools was used to investigate the effect of father absence on educational ambition. Information from surveys completed by the boys and from interviews held with their mothers provided the relevant data. Multiple regression analyses were conducted for four sub-samples which were homogeneous with respect to race and grade level. Because of the greater proportion of female headed families among blacks, father absence proved to be a more important influence in the model for blacks than for whites. Moreover, there was also evidence that father absence depressed ambition to a greater extent among blacks than whites, at least for boys in the 12th grade. Neither academic performance nor the boys' views of the opportunity structure mediated much of the father absence effect on ambition, though a substantial portion of that effect was passed through the mothers' expectations for their sons' ultimate levels of attainment. Research into the nature of peer relationships for blacks and whites, preferably using longitudinal data to chart the development of ambition throughout at least the high school years is suggested. (Author/AM)