Submitted by Emily Geyman of Friday Harbor

Sam R. Buck II, who recently passed away, lived almost all of his 89 years on San Juan Island and wrote a trilogy of books which gives a unique perspective of life in the islands from the 1920s to today.

“The Bucks Stopped Here” is the story of the Buck family beginning with Sam’s father, who served four terms as county attorney (from 1920-28 and 1930-38), and his contributions to county government, as well as the role his son, Sam Buck II, played in the real estate economy of the islands.

“Every Day Is An Adventure: Growing Up on San Juan Island” offers intriguing stories of what Sam and his friends did for fun, e.g. camping at Jakle’s Lagoon as children, fishing for dogfish livers, netting rabbits as teenagers and much more.

“A Letter to the People of Our Amazing and Wonderful San Juan Islands” relates the history of the islands and islanders from 1873 to changes in the economy and government in the 1960s and 1970s to 2016 and proposes new directions for county government. The trilogy is available at Griffin Bay Books and Island Studios in Friday Harbor.