Evelyn Thurman was a teacher, librarian, Laura Ingalls Wilder expert, world traveler, penny pincher, philanthropist, eccentric, and all-around extraordinary Kentucky woman. She inspired students to be teachers and librarians, gave out cents-off coupons, saved everything, published books about Wilder, inspired a love of the Little House on the Prairie series in schoolchildren, walked her way around Bowling Green, made a 1959 Volkswagen last for decades (it still runs), and gave away hundreds of thousands of dollars to support education. Evelyn Thurman is an inspirational figure and a role model for our children and students.