Brother writes book about life of longtime Kent fire, police supporter

After Mike Buckingham, a longtime supporter of the Kent Fire Department and Kent Police programs to combat drunken driving, died in January 2014, his brother, Ward, decided to write a book about Mike’s life in hopes of continuing to impact others as his brother had.

Mike, a Washington State patrolman, was medically retired after a fiery on-duty crash in 1981 while in pursuit of an impaired driver. He suffered extensive burns and disfigurement all over his body and was not able to return to active duty. Instead, he focused on educating the public on traffic safety and impaired driving.

A book release for “Triumph Born of Ashes: Trooper Mike Buckingham’s Story” will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Golden Steer Steak ‘n Rib House, 23826 104th Ave. SE in Kent.

Ward, 72, of Spokane, said he was inspired to write about his brother’s life following Mike’s memorial service.

“I was frankly blown away by the magnitude of the impact my little bother had had,” he said. “When you start hearing people from all over speak about and give details and statistics, it just really blew me a way.”

Ward said Mike had told him that people had encouraged him to write his story, but he never did.

“He was a people person,” Ward said. “He would rather face-to-face interact with folks than sit in a corner with paper and pen writing.”

Ward, who worked as a physician, had never written a book.

He interviewed many of Mike’s former colleagues, friends and others whose lives he touched.

“He was so well known,” Ward said. “He had so many connections, contacts, admirers.”

He said writing the book brought him closer to his brother.

“This was a really therapeutic way for me to get to know my brother more than I did in life,” he said.

The 192-page book, published by Deep River Books, starts out with the accident and then gives background on Mike’s life up through his diagnoses with cancer, which took his life at the age of 61.

“This is not an effort to glorify Mike Buckingham,” Ward said. “Mike would not want it be an effort to glorify him. This is an effort using his life, which he did in his life, to help others in whatever way he could. He was trying to be a good example to others and serve others as best he could.”

Ward said he thinks Mike would approve of the book.

“Even in the part where I deal with his human frailties, I think he would be pleased with it,” Ward said.

A gifted man

Ward hopes Mike’s story will show the power of forgiveness.

“I think people who read it will see a human being who was gifted in many areas but like all humans had his weaknesses and recognized those weaknesses and tried to make amends where that was the better path traveled and did so successfully.”

The book, which is set to be released Sept. 3, can be preordered on Amazon.com. It will also be available at some bookstores, Ward said.

Those wanting to get their hands on a copy early, can do so at the Sept. 1 event. The book will be sold there for $12.

Food will be provided at the event, and people will have time to look at memorabilia from Mike’s life.

Ward said he plans to show a segment from a video made by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission of Mike toward the end of his life.

“It is much more effective to show him speaking than it is for me to talk about it,” Ward said.

Following the video, Ward will talk about the book and answer questions from the audience.

Proceeds from the book sales will benefit charities Mike supported.

Ward plans to establish the Mike Buckingham Memorial Student Community Service Award, a $1,000 scholarship, which will be awarded to a Kent-Meridian High School student beginning next June.

Ward said he hopes eventually to expand the scholarship program to the other three Kent high schools.

For more information, visit mikebuckinghamstory.com.