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Michigan’s Governor John Engler presented Dick Moehl, President of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, with the top honor at the May 18th Seventh Annual Governor’s Service Award Ceremony.
The Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award was presented to Moehl for his mission to preserve and restore Michigan’s lighthouses while creating a new generation of preservationists.
Through Moehl’s efforts, there is now a statewide awareness of the plight of deteriorating lighthouses. He has helped with the establishment of numerous nonprofit lighthouse organizations, worked on legislative improvements for lighthouse preservation, and has brought the lighthouse message to educators and youth. It is the youth, which he feels are the most important link in the preservation message. “A building saved today will not persist if the next generation does not care as much as we do,” said Moehl.
This honor, which the Governor called “the premier service recognition in the state,” was presented to Moehl at a banquet attended by over 1000 statewide community leaders. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given in memory of Michigan’s former Governor George Romney.
Accepting the award, Moehl was humble in his remarks, stating that the award really belonged to the many volunteers who work with him in the cause of historic preservation, “The real winners of this award are all of the people who are helping to save and restore Michigan’s great lighthouse heritage . . . they are the unsung heroes who are working day and night for the love of Michigan’s history and historic structures.”
He went on to say, “One critical ingredient for the assured future remembrance of lighthouse history will be the Great Lakes Lighthouse Museum in Mackinaw City. The museum facility will be the monument and spirit of our lighthouse history and create excitement to carry this story into the future.”
This story appeared in the July 2000 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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