Directory of Past Liberty Festivals

Link here to visit the Current Liberty Fest Page.

The list below shows all prior Defenders of Liberty Award recipients. Some awards were presented early in the following year so that the year of the “Libby Fest” doesn’t necessary correspond to the year for which the winner is being honored.*

Defender of Liberty Awards (“Libbies”) have been presented at our annual LibertyFest Banquet to a maximum of six select individuals, Libertarian or otherwise, who have made notable personal efforts in the defense of liberty. Awards are normally presented to Michigan residents. This is a directory of past Liberty Festival Banquets and Defender of Liberty Award recipients.

We granted three Libby Awards at the event to three very deserving Libertarians.

  • Spokesperson for Liberty Award: To a member of the community whose patriotism and conviction have inspired contributions to the cause of liberty.
  • Promoter of Liberty Award: To a libertarian whose efforts have done the most to promote the LP and Libertarian principles.
  • Producer of Liberty Award: To a dedicated, behind-the-scenes Libertarian whose quiet labors over the years exemplifies the backbone of the LP.

 

Former Defender of Liberty Award and Winners

Title

Winners

Location

2022-23 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Leah Dailey.
Promoter of Liberty: Ryan Brennan.
Producer of Liberty: Bradley Hunt.
Liberty Fest & State Convention
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Haworth Hotel at 225 College Ave. in downtown Holland.
2021 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Richard Wershe Jr..
Promoter of Liberty: Brian Ellison.
Producer of Liberty: Jeff Pittel & Andrew Hall.
Liberty Fest & State Convention
Saturday, July 9, 2022
Haworth Hotel at 225 College Ave. in downtown Holland.
2020 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Agnes Hitchcock.
Promoter of Liberty: Justin Amash.
Producer of Liberty: Catherine Filus.
Liberty Fest & State Convention
Saturday, June 26, 2021
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort. Mount Pleasant, Michigan 49735.
2019 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Martin Mashon and Julia Miller.
Promoter of Liberty: None Selected.
Producer of Liberty: Jerry Bloom and Norm Peterson.
Liberty Fest & State Convention
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Treetops Resort. 3962 Wilkinson Rd, Gaylord, Michigan 49735.
2018 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Kevin Dietz.
Promoter of Liberty: Lisa Lane Gioia.
Producer of Liberty: Dianne and Randolph “Randy” Szabla.
Liberty Fest & State Convention
Saturday, April 13, 2019
Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. 2 E Main St, Bay City, MI 48708.
2017 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Keith Wood.
Producer of Liberty: Loel Gnadt
Liberty Fest & Special Convention
March 10, 2018
Eagle Eye Banquet Center 15500 Chandler Rd, Bath, MI 48808.
2016 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Maryanne Godboldo.
Promoter of Liberty: Logan Fleckenstein
Producer of Liberty: Bob Broda
Liberty Fest & Special Convention
February 4, 2017
Ramada Lansing Hotel and Conference Center. 7501 West Saginaw Hwy, Lansing.
2015 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Glenn Wilson.
Promoter of Liberty: Bradley Hunt
Producer of Liberty: Raymond Warner
November 14th, 2015
Weber Inn – Ann Arbor
3050 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor
2014 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Mary Buzuma
Promoter of Liberty: Erin Stahl
Producer of Liberty: Arnis Davidsons
Burton Manor, 27777 Schoolcraft Rd, Livonia, MI 48150
2013 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Leonard Schwartz
Promoter of Liberty: Karl Jackson
Producer of Liberty: Rodger Young
East Lansing Marriott at University Place. 300 M. A. C. Ave.
East Lansing, MI 48823
2012 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Tim Keirnan
Promoter of Liberty: Gary Johnson (The Texan)
Producer of Liberty: Tom Nardone
The Club Venetian in Madison Heights
2011 Libbies Spokesperson for Liberty: Pat Clawson
Promoter of Liberty: Dr. Erwin Haas
Producer of Liberty: Denee Rockman-Moon
Holt, MI: Delhi Cafe, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
2010 Libbies Spokesperson of Liberty: Chad Stevens
Promoter of Liberty: William Gelineau
Producer of Liberty: Brian Wright
Holiday Inn Gateway Center, Flint
2009 Libbies Rose Bogaert
Mark Byrne
Lawrence Johnson
Marriott at Eagle Crest Resort, 1275 S. Huron St in Ypsilanti
2008 Libbies Leon Drolet
Krystal Martinez
Greg Stempfle
David Eisenbacher
Dimitri’s on the Avenue, 14316 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn
2007 Libbies Martin Howrylak
Leslie Roszman
Scotty Boman
2007-2008 LPM Campaign Conference
Best Western Hotel, 16999 South Laurel Park Drive. Livonia
2006 Libbies Bill Hall
Gregory Creswell
Tim O’Brien
Arthur Gulick
The Original Cottege Inn Resturant, Ann Abror MI
2005 Libbies Leonard Schwartz
Andy LeCureaux
Sheldon Rose
Sajo’s Restaurant. 36470 Moravian, Clinton Township, MI 48035
2004 Libbies Tim Beck
Stuart Ruley
Jamie Lewis
Hampton Inn Suites. Okemos. 2200 Hampton Place, Okemos, MI
2003 Libbies Greg Dirasian
Joe Overton (posthumous)
Jeff Steinport
Hampton Inn Suites. Okemos, 2200 Hampton Place, Okemos, MI
2002 Libbies Fred Collins
Dick and Rae Jozwiak
Paul Soyk
Mac & Ray’s, Harrison Township
2001 Libbies Tom Crosslin
Csaba Csere
Joanne Karpinski (posthumous)
Nancy O’Brien
Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn
2000 Libbies Bill Bradley
Bill Shotey
Tom Shull
Joanne Karpinski
Miles World Resturant, 17689 Masonic (near Groesbeck), Fraser, MI 48026
1999 Libbies Mark Heil
David Littmann
Al Titran & Rosemary Racchi
Emily Salvette
Heinzman’s Heidelberg Restaurant, at 43785 Gratiot Avenue (M-3) in Clinton Township
1998 Libbies Ben Bachrach
Bob Black
Top of the Pontchartrain Hotel, Detroit Michigan
1997 Libbies Jon Coon
Keith Edwards
Phil O’Halloran
Northfield Hilton Main Ballroom. Troy, Michigan
1996 Libbies Richard Ask
Barb Goushaw
Todd and Sharon Greene
Gary Stewart and Karen Mazarella
Sterling Inn in Sterling Heights
1995 Lifetime LPM Activist James Hudler
1994 Freedom Fighter Plaque Dick Jacobs (posthumous)
1993 Libertarian Week Banquet Jack Kevorkian Clarion Hotel in Farmington Hills

 

* Traditionally Liberty Festival Banquets have been held as distinct events near the end of calendar years during which award winners earned them. However, it was often a challenge for activists to organize a festival while campaigning on even years, so Defender of Liberty Awards are often bestowed upon winners during the early spring convention of the following year. So if an award is handed out in the spring, it is for the previous year. For example, the 2017 Defender of Liberty Awards were handed out at the 2018 spring convention, but the 2015 Defender of Liberty Awards were handed out at the Liberty Festival Banquet held in November of 2015.

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