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\u2019s life in hopes of continuing to impact others as his brother had.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n A book release for \u201cTriumph Born of Ashes: Trooper Mike Buckingham\u2019s Story\u201d will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1 at the Golden Steer Steak \u2018n Rib House, 23826 104th Ave. SE in Kent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ward, 72, of Spokane, said he was inspired to write about his brother\u2019s life following Mike\u2019s memorial service.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI was frankly blown away by the magnitude of the impact my little bother had had,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen you start hearing people from all over speak about and give details and statistics, it just really blew me a way.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ward said Mike had told him that people had encouraged him to write his story, but he never did. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a people person,\u201d Ward said. \u201cHe would rather face-to-face interact with folks than sit in a corner with paper and pen writing.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ward, who worked as a physician, had never written a book. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n He interviewed many of Mike\u2019s former colleagues, friends and others whose lives he touched. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cHe was so well known,\u201d Ward said. \u201cHe had so many connections, contacts, admirers.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n He said writing the book brought him closer to his brother. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThis was a really therapeutic way for me to get to know my brother more than I did in life,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The 192-page book, published by Deep River Books, starts out with the accident and then gives background on Mike\u2019s life up through his diagnoses with cancer, which took his life at the age of 61. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not an effort to glorify Mike Buckingham,\u201d Ward said. \u201cMike 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ward said he thinks Mike would approve of the book. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cEven in the part where I deal with his human frailties, I think he would be pleased with it,\u201d Ward said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n A g<\/span>ifted man<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ward hopes Mike\u2019s story will show the power of forgiveness. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n