Paul Kincaid’s father was far from perfect, but he was the best dad that he could be to his five sons, and for that they appreciate him incredibly. This Father’s Day, honor and remembrance of this father is celebrated through written word.

Kincaid, who retired from Missouri State University in 2014, recently penned a book in remembrance of his father and the lasting impact he made on his life.

“E. Leon: A Perfectly Imperfect Dad” is a book about the experience of growing up with a father who never liked to do the same thing the same way twice.

Kincaid’s father was a man who never liked to let life happen, but to always be active and involved. He didn’t believe in putting something off to tomorrow that could be done today.

“He never filibustered life,” said Kincaid. “He wanted to live life and did. He never acted old. And he used humor to deal with life — both good times and bad.”

Buy Kincaid’s book

First-hand father experience

Kincaid attributes how he views life and raised his own children to his father’s parenting style and how he treated his sons.

“When my brothers and I were growing up, we had a difficult time financing our college educations, so my commitment to my own kids was that I would help pay for the vast majority of their undergraduate educations,” said Kincaid. “I didn’t want them to have to go through what we went through.”

Growing up, travel was often a difficult and trying process. Kincaid remembered this process in the book, citing that any trip was a gamble.

“It was a toss-up for us growing up whether we were going to get there and get home. The cars were cheap and the tires were bald,” said Kincaid. “So, having lived through that, when my kids were old enough to drive, we got them good cars with good tires.”

Kincaid served as chief of staff/assistant to the president before he retired in 2014. He also directed university relations from 1986-2014 and was coordinator of governmental relations from 1993-2014.

Buying the book

“E. Leon: A Perfectly Imperfect Dad” is available in print from the self-publisher Lulu, Amazon, Barnes & Noble (in both paperback and E Book formats); from Apple iBooks and from Kincaid’s personal website.