Jeff & Nancy Meyer

Nancy (Padgett) and Jeff Meyer were both born and raised in Martin County. Nancy grew up in Bramble and Jeff just outside of Loogootee in the West Boggs Creek area. Both Nancy and Jeff can trace their family ancestry to the mid-1800s and some of the earliest settlers of Martin County, giving them a strong connection to the community.

Both graduated from Loogootee High School: Jeff in 1974 and Nancy in 1975. They started dating during high school and were married at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Bramble in 1978. After Jeff graduated from Ball State University in 1978, he had the opportunity to work for a company in Indianapolis, and they decided to relocate from Loogootee to Indianapolis after they were married. Their intent was always to return to Loogootee to be close to family and be a part of the community they loved. They didn’t know at the time it would be 36 years and seven corporate relocations before they would realize their dream to return. They were finally able to return to Martin County in 2014. Throughout all their years away, the values and life lessons they learned while growing up in Martin County were invaluable to them and helped keep them grounded. 

Once Jeff and Nancy returned to Loogootee and Martin County, they were grateful to find the community so welcoming. They quickly re-established local connections and become involved in the community making them feel like they had never left. It was so special that no matter where they went, they saw someone they knew, went to school with, or were related to. It was a different experience than they had become accustomed to while they were away. Though it was an adjustment to return to a small town after living in large metropolitan areas for many years, the one thing that became obvious to Jeff and Nancy was how warm and caring the community was and how everyone was always willing to contribute and support individuals and organizations that needed assistance. That caring attitude was something that was missing in the large cities where they lived over the years. It was inspiring to see how the people in Martin County truly cared about each other and their community and were always willing to help out wherever they could.

Jeff and Nancy’s parents instilled in them the need to give freely of their “time, talent, and treasure.” Their parents had lived by those words through their deeds and actions. Delores and Lester Padgett and Charlotte and Dale Meyer were very active in the community and contributed to the church and other local activities throughout their lives. Their example made a lasting impression that Jeff and Nancy would always remember and strive to live up to. After returning to Martin County, Jeff and Nancy searched for opportunities to give back to the community. While they had some success, they found it was difficult to identify all the various needs in the community and felt like they could and should do more. They became aware of the Martin County Community Foundation and thought that establishing a fund with the community foundation was an excellent way to contribute to the wider community. MCCF can readily adapt to real-life situations in the community that can change very quickly and ensure funds are directed to where they are most needed. The Jeff and Nancy Fund for Martin County is an unrestricted fund established to recognize and remember their parents’ and families’ legacies and to recognize their many contributions to the community over the years. 

Wilma Bateman

Wilma Bateman lived in Loogootee, Indiana, all her life, graduating from St. John High School in 1955.  Though Wilma had a competitive nature, she didn’t participate in athletics growing up as, at the time, St. John offered no competitive sports for female athletes.  Nevertheless, Wilma’s competitive spirit played a distinct role in her well-lived life.

Shortly after graduation, Wilma married Jim Bateman.  Jim and Wilma raised six children, all of whom were involved in sports while attending Loogootee High School.  Wilma got no greater pleasure in life than watching her children compete in sports from grade school through high school.  As an adult, Wilma finally had the opportunity to compete in tennis and golf leagues winning many trophies along the way.

It was her love of tennis that was passed down to the two youngest of their children, Samantha and Chris, who became quite accomplished in their own rights at Loogootee High School.  Chris was a standout on one of the best Loogootee tennis teams in its history. Samantha had an outstanding career at LHS and was awarded a four-year scholarship to play tennis at Kentucky Wesleyan College.  In so doing, Samantha was the first LHS tennis player to play the sport in college.  Wilma’s love of tennis was also passed on to three of her granddaughters, all of whom played tennis at LHS.

Later in life Wilma picked up a golf club and fell hard for the sport.  She played every day she could until her passion was interrupted by a diagnosis of lung cancer in 2005.  Though her doctors gave her only 12-18 months to live, her love of life was so strong she lived for five years after her diagnosis.  While her disease slowed her down, she continued to play golf when she could.  In fact, just two months prior to her passing, she captured the Senior League Golf Championship at the Lakeview Golf Course at West Boggs.

The Wilma L. Bateman Memorial Scholarship was established to honor Wilma’s memory and to provide a legacy to help young female athletes in whatever their college aspirations may be.