if ($parent eq "Father")
   {
        $sub_parent = "Mother";
        $sth = $dbh->prepare ("select Father from Roster where User = ?);
        $sth->execute($user) or die $sth->errstr;
        # putting 'or die $sth->errstr;' will tell you if
        # your query fails and why

        $name = $sth->fetchrow_array;
   } #end if Father