Huckleberries Interviews Hazel Bauman
DFO: Aren't you a Canadian?
Hazel Bauman: I'm a naturalized U.S. citizen, but I was born in England and raised until I was 13. Then, I lived in Canada from 13 to 21. I came to the states when I married an American at age 21. I came right to Coeur d'Alene. This is where I've been since 1974.
DFO: You joined the school district in 1979? Can you list the superintendents that you've worked for since then?
HB: Barry Stein hired me as consulting teacher in special education in 1979. He left in 1983. Warren Bakes was the next superintendent before I took a leave of absence for five years to raise small children. When I came back in 1989, the infamous Merlin Ludwig was the superintendent. Then came Doug Cresswell, Keith Tolzin, Doug Cresswell again, David Rawls, and then Harry Amend.
DFO: Speaking of David Rawls, you're officially now Mrs. David Rawls, correct?
HB: Yes. But I plan to keep the Bauman name for a little while. Mebbe a year or two.
DFO: How did the romance with David begin?
HB: Not only was he the superintendent, but my ex-husband and I and the Rawls did things socially. We kept in touch even after he retired to Walla Walla in 2002. When Sandy passed away, I sent him a card and invited him to drop by for coffee. He did. I had gone through a divorce by then. It started off as a friendship and it ended up as a romance.
DFO: How was it like to be the wife of a would-be legislator (David ran unsuccessfully for the House District 3 seat still held by Phil Hart)?
HB: It was exciting. Dvid ran a thorough and strenuous campaign. That's how he lives life. He had a lot of support. He worked it hard. We were like ships that passed in the night for awhile. We were disappointed when he lost. The telling sign that he might not be finished is that he didn't throw his signs away.
