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.
