"... To preserve the memory of the Washington State Department of Transportation fallen workers and to provide assistance
WSDOT Memorial Foundation
WSDOTMF: Supporting Employees and Families in Need
The Washington State Department of Transportation Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing financial assistance to WSDOT employees disabled in the line of duty, families of Fallen Workers, and those impacted by catastrophic illness or injury. Funded by donations and events, the Foundation is governed by a board of directors and registered with the Secretary of State, Combined Fund Drive, and the IRS.
Online Auction
Monthly Memorial Tribute
This month we pay tribute to and remember these WSDOT employees who died in work zone incidents:
- Bruce H. Cowing died May 16, 2016, when his personal truck went off the employee level of the Hood Canal Bridge in the Olympic Region at the end of his shift. The truck and body were recovered from nearly 400-foot deep waters on May 26, 2016.
- James C. Wishard, May 19, 1980, Southwest Region, engineer technician. James was killed when he was recording data on a pad and walked behind a contractor’s truck while it was backing up.
- William L. Cook, May 24, 1977, Northwest Region, bridge maintenance technician. William was killed when he got caught between the counterweight and another part of the Swinomish Channel Bridge while performing maintenance work.
- Two Eastern Region maintenance technicians were killed along the freeway in Spokane in 1959 when a WSDOT paint truck exploded. George H. Mulfinger, May 8, 1959. George died from injuries received when his paint truck ignited that day. Newspaper reports stated a flipped cigarette may have caused the large explosion.
- Francis E. Baker, May 9, 1959. Francis was working on a nearby maintenance truck when the paint truck exploded. He died from his injuries the following day.
CGI Meet & Greet
Foundation President David Sowers, Casey Dunivan and CGI staff.
Bill Ford, Foundation Executive Director and Casey Dunivan, Director of Consulting CGI
Attendees at CGI Meet & Greet December 1, 2025
2026 Foundation Board of Directors
2026 Worker Memorial Event at the Lacey Community Center
As pictured L to R: Pat Morin, David Sowers (President), Julie Meredith, Doug Vaughn, Mike Frucci, Troy Cowan (Vice President), Chris Christopher, David Bierschbach (Treasurer), John Conrad (Past President), Heidi Mabbott, Bill Ford (Executive Director), Greg Selstead, Mike Gribner, and Pasco Bakotich
Foundation President David Sowers speaking at the Worker Memorial Event
Bill Ford, Chief John Batiste, and John Conrad at the Worker Memorial Reception