By Alex Holwerda
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
Evelyn Bachman was so special, she had an award named after her.
The Bowling Green attorney received the Wood County Bar Association Evie Award, which was named after her in 1982.
“She had no idea the Wood County Bar Association created the (Evie) award specifically for her,” said her husband James. “The only recipient of the award is Evelyn Bachman. We honored her because she gave her effort and time unselfishly.”
Bachman, who died suddenly in May 2022 at the age of 84, was recently honored with another award.
She was the posthumous recipient of the Nettie Cronise Lutes Award. The award is named after the first woman licensed to practice law in Ohio. The Ohio State Bar Association Women in the Profession Section established the Nettie Award to honor Lutes and to recognize woman lawyers who have improved the legal profession through their own professionalism, opening doors for other women and girls.
Bachman.
The award cited: “Evelyn Bachman’s legal career spanned 59 years before she passed away in spring 2022 at the age of 84. From being one of only two women in her law school graduating class to becoming the first woman assistant county prosecutor in Wood County, Bachman blazed a trail for fellow women in the legal profession through her own professional achievements and her dedication to her community. For her legacy and lifelong devotion to her community and the advancement of fellow women, Bachman is the posthumous recipient of the 2023 Nettie Cronise Lutes Award.”
Bachman was a longtime attorney/practitioner of Bachman & Bachman Law Office in Bowling Green.
“Because it is a small community, you get to know everybody. Evelyn was just a leader,” said James Bachman.
He is a retired Bowling Green Municipal Court Judge and retired Bowling Green State University professor in the Criminal Justice Program. The couple married March 15, 1963.
“One time back in the early 2000s, she told me that she was going to begin working towards becoming president of the Ohio Woman’s Club (a 10-year process). Evelyn was a hard, friendly, happy worker. She was pretty neat.”
She was a first-generation American who was born on Feb. 11, 1938, in Mansfield, Ohio to the late Martin and Eva (Frederick) Hubner.
Bachman grew up on a farm — her favorite cow was Elsie — with no running water. Her father inspired her love of learning, and with his encouragement, she enrolled in Ohio Northern University after graduating from Mansfield High School. At ONU she worked multiple jobs, including at the college bookstore, to cover tuition and expenses of obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree and her Juris Doctor degree.
She was the first person in her family to attend college.
Bachman.
Bachman received numerous awards over the years, including the 2002 Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Woman Citizen, AAUW Outstanding Woman of the Year (1989, 2001) and the GFWC Ohio Jennie Award.
Whether she was working hard for her clients at the law office, being a leader for her children’s Boy/Girl Scout troops or serving in countless organizations she was in, Bachman still made time for her family and friends.
“Both my parents believe(d) that lawyers can do anything. Something about going to law school and the way it teaches you to write and think,” said her daughter, Brenda Bachman. “The law degree can allow you to do anything. My mom believed that everyone should become a lawyer. My mom convinced me to become a lawyer.”
“For her, it was really the joy of helping folks. That was the motivator for her,” said Bill Bachman, her son.
“It is interesting when you look back on your life, you think about the happy moments. Growing up in BG, it was a safe environment with friendly people (small town feel), especially with how involved my parents and grandparents were in the community.”
Bachman left her mark
Some of the organizations that Evelyn Bachman belonged to:
Bowling Green Women’s Club (member 1991-2022; president 1992-93 and 2013-15)
GFWC/Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs (member 1991-2022, secretary 2005, second vice president 2006-08; first vice president 2008-10; state president 2010-12)
Boy Scouts Troop 422 (den mother 1980; advisory board member 1984-86)
Girl Scouts Troop 119 (assistant leader 1980-84, leader 1985-86)
Wood County Bar Association’s Law Explorer Post (head adviser 1978-80)
Friends of the Wood County District Public Library (member 1989-2022)
League of Women Voters (member 1972-2022)
American Association of University Women (member 1963-2022)
P.E.O. of Bowling Green Chapter AA (1987-2022)
The First Ladies Investment Club of Bowling Green (member 1989-2022; vice president 1994-1996; president 1996-98)
Bowling Green Alumnae Association of Alpha Xi Delta (1963-2022)
Wood County Hospital Board (member 1986-2006; secretary 1987, 1988, 1991; vice chair 1996; chair 1997 — first woman to serve on the board and serve as chair)
Wood County Hospital Foundation (secretary 1987-1993, trustee 1999-2005)
Wood County Hospital Guild (member 2003-22)
Wood County Human Services Board — the Link (member 1975-97)
Wood Lane Industries Board of Trustees (member 1975-85; president 1981)
First Presbyterian Church of Bowling Green (member 1963-2022).
