BUCYRUS — The Ohio State Bar Foundation recognizes young attorneys with a Community Service Award for attorneys 40 and under in each of its districts. Crawford County is in District Five.
On Tuesday, local attorney Michael Bear received the award. Bear serves as the City of Galion’s Assistant to the Law Director. Bear does legal research and writing, seeks grant funding sources and addresses legislative changes. He also serves as a staff attorney for Crawford County Common Pleas Court where he assists judges and magistrates in developing rules, procedures and administrative functions, and works with other public officials.
Bear also serves as a board member for Community Counseling Services, Inc. Through multiple funding sources and work with the community the organization has been able to provide innovative and effective therapeutic solutions in the community for more than 40 years.
Thanks to their efforts the community has seen a reduction in youth suicides rates. Crawford County has gone from a county with one of the highest rates to now a county with one of the lowest youth suicide rates.
Bear is active in his church, Bucyrus First Church of the Nazarene, where he serves as a member of the board and plays saxophone in the church orchestra each week. He is also chairman of the Crawford County Republican Party Central Committee. In this role he does a variety of things including events, fundraising, campaigning, and working with various elected officials at the local, state and federal levels for community improvement.
Bear was presented the award by Galion attorney Steve Tilson, a past president of the Ohio State Bar Foundation.