Bachman Brown Jr.

Bachman S. Brown Jr.

KANNAPOLIS - Bachman S. Brown Jr. age 88, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, at Tucker Hospice House, Kannapolis, after a period of declining health.

He was born in 1926 in Lexington to the late Rev. Dr. and Mrs. B. S. Brown Sr. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Charles E. Brown.

Growing up, Bachman attended Lexington and Lincoln County schools and enlisted in the US Navy during World War II from 1944-1946. He graduated from Duke University in 1947 with an AB Degree and received his J.D. Degree in 1950 from the Duke University School of Law. Bachman continued his service in the Naval Reserves until he retired in 1986 at the rank of Lieutenant.

Bachman was admitted to the NC State Bar in 1950 and worked 61 years as an attorney in private practice. He was admitted to practice in all courts in the NC General Court of Justice, US District Court, US Court of Appeals for 4th Circuit, and the US Supreme Court. During his career, Bachman served as an Assistant Judge for the Cabarrus County Recorder's Court from 1953-1956 and Judge for the Cabarrus County Domestic Relations Court from 1956-1963. Professionally, he was a member of the Cabarrus County Bar Association (Past President), the 19-A Judicial District Bar (Past President), the North Carolina State Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association

The son and grandson of Lutheran ministers, Bachman was a faithful member at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church where he was a Sunday School teacher for 50+ years. At the church, he served as President of the congregation and several terms as a member of the Congregational Council. In 1961 Bachman was the Chairman of the Capital Funds Drive that built the present church building.

He also served the Lutheran church on the state level as either an advisory member, legal counsel or executive board member of the NC Synod Council for 27 years. During his service with the Synod, he also served as Parliamentarian for the NC Synod Conventions, member and Secretary of Cabarrus Lutheran Family Services Support Group, member of the Building Committee for the NC Synod Headquarters Building, member of the 200th Anniversary committee of the NC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Lay Chairman of the NC Synod's Lenoir-Rhyne College Centennial Renewal Campaign, and member of the Board of Directors and former Secretary of the Home Mission Foundation of the NC Synod. In addition, Bachman was a NC delegate to 24 consecutive National Conventions of the Lutheran Church from 1960-2005.

Bachman made Kannapolis his home and began serving the community in 1950. He was a member of the John R. Mott Y's Men's Club (Past President), Kannapolis Rotary Club (Past President), Beaver-Pittman Post 115 American Legion (Past Commander), Voiture No. 1173, 40 & 8 (Chef De Gare), and former member of the Kannapolis Jaycees (Past President). Bachman also served on the Board of Directors for the Cabarrus Arts Council, Board of Trustees for Historic Cabarrus, Kannapolis City Schools Education Foundation, Cabarrus County Community Foundation, and Family Promise.

He continued his passion of helping people with his work with the American Red Cross and the United Way. For the Red Cross, he was a former Chairman of the Cabarrus County Chapter and the Piedmont Regional Blood Center. During his term in office, the Bloodmobile for Cabarrus County was started. Bachman was also on the Field Office Advisory Council for the Eastern and Southeastern Regions and the former Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Carolinas Division. The United Way was another community organization Bachman believed in and was Campaign Chairman for Cabarrus County in 1983 and President of the Board of Directors in Cabarrus County in 1984.

Kannapolis, Cabarrus County, and North Carolina were great sources of pride for Bachman. He served on the Cabarrus County Board of Elections from 1973-1985, Chairman 1977-1985, and was selected as the 1st Vice President of the Executive Committee of the NC Association of County Election Board Chairmen.

Bachman was active as well in the Chamber of Commerce where he was a past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Kannapolis Chamber of Commerce, member of the Cabarrus County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Committee on Transportation, and member of the Business Committee for Regional Transportation Solutions.

He believed that athletics were important to a community and worked to improve athletic facilities in Kannapolis. Bachman was on the committee to raise funds for the building of the Kannapolis Memorial Stadium at A.L. Brown School. In addition, he served as Chairman of the Rowan County-Kannapolis Regional Sports Authority which helped build Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium and bring minor league baseball to Kannapolis.

His biggest source of civic pride was in the city itself. Bachman was Chairman of the Initial Study Commission to incorporate Kannapolis. He was a member of the Special Task Force for Kannapolis Incorporation and Chairman of the Kannapolis Charter Commission. When Kannapolis became a city in 1984, the residents elected Bachman to be the first mayor. He served as mayor from 1984-1993.

Bachman was honored over the years for his work within his profession, church, and community. He was named Kannapolis Young Man of the Year in 1957. In 1961, Bachman was named Admiral of the Fleet for Cabarrus County in the North Carolina Navy by Governor Terry Sanford for his work as Chairman for fund-raising in Cabarrus County to bring the Battleship North Carolina home. He was given a Doctor of Laws Degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1970. Other honors include: Kannapolis Citizen of the Year by Kannapolis Jaycees (1980 and 1985), Kannapolis Daily Independent's Man of the Year (1983), Paul Harris Fellow by Kannapolis Rotary Club (1983), Volunteer of the Year by Pilot Club of Kannapolis (1985), Toastmasters International Communication Achievement Award (1987), Kannapolis Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Citizen Award (1994), Distinguished Rotarian Award District 7680 (1995-1996), 50-Year Service Certificate by Masonic Order (2000), Cabarrus County Citizen of the Year by the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce (2002), Liberty Bell award by Cabarrus County Bar Association (2006), Centennial Award for Outstanding Exemplary Community Service by the NC and Cabarrus County Bar Associations (2007), Proclamation and Key to the City of Kannapolis for loyalty and dedication to the City of Kannapolis (2007), J. Carlyle Rutledge Lifetime Service Award in recognition of Rotary service by the Kannapolis Rotary Club (2007), Resolution in Honor of Past and Continuing Service to the NC Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2008). For a lifetime of distinguished service to the citizens of North Carolina, Governor Michael Easley in 2008 awarded Bachman "The Order of the Long Leaf Pine."

Arrangements: The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30 at Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church, Kannapolis, officiated by Rev. Scott Swix and The Rev. Dr. Leonard Bolick, Bishop of the N.C. Synod. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park, Kannapolis, with military rites by the Cabarrus County Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 at Whitley's Funeral Home.

Bachman is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Mabel Brown; son Robert B. Brown (Mary); daughter Sarah B. Fishback (Vance); as well as his adoring grandsons, Carter, Jack, and Lawson Fishback and Jacob Brown.

The family is deeply grateful for the assistance from the caregivers of Advanced Home Care, Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, and Bayada. The care and attention you gave Bachman will never be forgotten.

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Lutheran World Relief, 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; Lutheridge/Lutherock, 28 Spruce Drive, Arden, NC 28704; Camp Agape, 1369 Tyler Dewar Lane, Fuquay-Varina NC 27526; Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081; or Kannapolis Booster Club, P.O. Box 344, Kannapolis, NC 28082-0344, Attn: Stadium Project.

Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.