Park Maintenance Leadership Award Recipients

This award highlights excellence in areas such as park maintenance, resource management, equipment practices, and environmental stewardship. Open to professionals at any stage of mParks membership, this award celebrates those who care for our public spaces with passion and precision.

1968
Kenneth Peldo - H.C.M.A.

1969
James Baugh - Flint

1970
Daniel Craig - Oak Park

1971
Robert Stokes Sr. - Detroit

1972
Robert Stokes Jr. - Detroit
Carlton Bennett - Okemos

1973
Robert Hofer - Detroit

1976
Adam Helzer - H.C.M.A.

1977
Richard Dahn - H.C.M.A.

1978
James Cash - H.C.M.A.

1981
Steve Gillette - Royal Oak
Ray Browne - Birmingham
Jack Kerr - Ann Arbor

1982
Jack Cochran - Midland

1983
John Harmon - Delta Twp.
John Hoving - Grand Rapids

1984
William Lawrence - Ann Arbor
John Major - Troy

1985
Franklin D. Davis - Oak Park
Robert G. Strejc - Midland

1986
Paul Pounders - Midland Co.
Don Vettraino – Huntington Woods

1987
G. Baderschneider – Isabella Co.
Ron Parent - Royal Oak

1988
Ray DeLasko - Oakland Co.

1989
John Nugent - Flint
John Sowles - Oakland Co.

1990
James Agee - Oak Park
Robert A. Cool - Lansing

1991
Dave Coates - Wyoming

1992
John Freeman - Flint
Wiley VanHooser - Wayne Co.

1993
Jack Lewis - Novi

1994
Mike Marsh - Isabella Co.

1995
Alan Buckenmeyer - Rochester Hills
David Burley - W. Bloomfield Twp.

1996
Rollie A. Read - Portage

1997
Bill Remer - H.C.M.A.

1998
Brad Baker - Oakland Co.

1999
Ted Boehmer - Sterling Hts.

2000
Charles McDiarmid - H.C.M.A.

2001
Donald Gibson - Ann Arbor

2002
Matt Warba - Ann Arbor

2003
Doug Koons - Ingham County Parks

2004
Joseph Jolly - H.C.M.A.

2005
Scot Stillman - Meridian Township

2006
Mark T. Colombo – Troy
Clyde Herb – Oakland County

2007
Roger Colvin – Wyoming

2008
Gary Huizenga – Kent Co.

2009
Mike Wilhite – Oakland Co.

2010
Dave Reynolds – Canton Twp.

2011
Tim Wosik, Sterling Heights

2012
Brittany Bird – Oakland Co.

2013
Jennifer Tucker – Springfield Twp.

2014
Joe Ketchum – West Bloomfield

2015
Matthew Sharp – St. Clair Co.

2016
Jamie Weasel – Grand Blanc

2017
Chris Bundy – Mt. Pleasant
Larry Hess - Independence Township

2018
Darel Williamson – St. Clair County

2020
Robert Lissner – Oakland County

2021
Mike Boyd – Oakland County

2022
Brad Brenske, St. Clair County

2023
Coe Emens, Ingham County

2025 
John McKeown, West Bloomfield