John Stephens presented a plaque to the family of Richard Buckner during a 25th anniversary of his death on Thursday at the Clanton Police Department. (Photo by Anthony Richards)

The life of Richard Buckner was honored 25 years later during a ceremony at the Clanton Police Department on Thursday.

Buckner was an officer with the department and died in the line of duty while responding to a call of a large fight that had broken out at the Waffle House on U.S. Highway 31 in Clanton at 3:37 a.m. on July 28, 1991.

Fellow officer John Stephens was in pursuit of the call and Buckner was on way to provide backup, when he unexpected hit a telephone pole located near the Taco Bell on U.S. Highway 31.

Buckner was 39 years old and had three children. He was a member of the Clanton Police Department for 12 years.

According to Stephens, as he approached the Waffle House those at the scene began to scatter and he was preparing to report back that the situation had been subdued.

However, the lights at the restaurant suddenly went out and a loud boom echoed throughout the surrounding area.

“It went pitch black and I knew immediately that someone had wrecked, because the power never just went out in Clanton,” Stephens said.

Stephens made his way back up on U.S. Highway 31 toward Clanton and at first could not tell that it was a patrol car because the light bar on top had shattered from the impact.

“I got out and knelt down by Richard’s door, and just prayed to make things right,” Stephens said.

A wooden cross was placed on a telephone pole in front of Taco Bell on U.S. Highway 31 to mark the location where Buckner’s accident occurred. (Contributed Photo)

Stephens wore a bracelet with Richard’s name on it every day for the next 24 years.

“It was rough for everyone because he was one of the most fun people that you could be around,” Stephens said. “It was just one of those freak accidents.”

According to Clanton Police Chief Keith Maddox, Buckner’s death remains the only line of duty death since he began with the department in 1980.

“Hopefully, that is the only one that we will ever have to remember,” Maddox said.

Members of Buckner’s family were on hand during the ceremony and listened as former and current officers took turns standing up and sharing stories that brought both laughter and tears.

“He meant so much to all of us,” Stephens said. “We lost a father, son and a true friend that day.”

Stephens presented a pair of plaques, with one going to the family of Richard Buckner and another to be hung in the Clanton Police Department as a lasting memory.

A cross was also placed on a telephone pole in front of Taco Bell, at the location where Buckner’s accident occurred 25 years ago.

“Since then, the date has meant something more to me than just July 28,” said Bobbi Buckner, Richard’s mother. “To me, it will always be that day in 1991.”