Awards
Nominations
William L. Steude Ethics and Civility in Local Government Award
Click here to view award criteria and submit a nomination>
Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award
Click here to view award criteria and submit a nomination>
William L. Steude Ethics and Civility in Local Government Award
The William L. Steude Award was established to honor individuals for significant and tangible achievement in the field of local government ethics and civility.
Nominees should be an official or employee of a member municipality of the Michigan Municipal League, a member of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys, or other person associated with local government.
Selection of recipients is made by the Awards Committee comprised of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys and the president and the executive director of the Michigan Municipal League.
The award is dedicated to the memory of William L. Steude, former general counsel of the Michigan Municipal League and good friend of the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys.
Award Winners
2019 Eleanor Coco Siewert, Registered Parliamentarian and former Mayor and Commissioner, Birmingham
2015 John Rae, City Attorney, Midland
2012 Ronald D. Keefe, City Attorney, Marquette
2011 Don M. Schmidt, Miller Canfield, Kalamazoo
2008 Philip A. Balkema, City Attorney, Grand Rapids
2008 John M. Barr, City Attorney, Ypsilanti
2007 George M. Elworth, Assistant Attorney General, State of Michigan
2005 Charles R. McKone, City Attorney, Linden
2004 Daniel C. Matson, City Attorney, DeWitt and Village Attorney, Fowler (deceased)
2003 Dennis E. McGinty, City Attorney, East Lansing
2002 Cheryl C. Farmer, Mayor, Ypsilanti
MAMA Distinguished Attorney Award
The Distinguished Municipal Attorney Award was established to honor municipal attorneys who have reached the highest level of professional accomplishment, in the representation of cities or villages and contribution to other municipal attorneys through participation in and service to professional organizations such as the Michigan Association of Municipal Attorneys (MAMA) and the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA).
Award Winners
2022
Michael S. Bogren, Plunkett Cooney
Steven P. Joppich, City Attorney Farmington Hills, Rosati, Schultz, Joppich and Amtsbuechler
Eric D. Williams, City Attorney Big Rapids
2019
Andy Mulder, City Attorney, Holland
Rob Jamo, City Attorney, Menominee
2017
Derk W. Beckerleg, City Attorney, Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Hills
2016
William P. Hampton, City Attorney, Bloomfield Hills
2015
David M. Savu, City Attorney, Ishpeming
2013
Mark E. Nettleton, Village Attorney, Middleville
2012
William (Bill) B. Beach, City Attorney, Milan, Rockwood
Timothy J. Currier, City Attorney, Birmingham
Debra A. Walling, Corporation Counsel, Dearborn
2011
Gregory T. Stremers, City Attorney, City of Brown City
2010
Thomas R. Schultz, City Attorney, Farmington Hills
Jeffrey V. H. Sluggett, Village Attorney, Nashville
Sue A. Jeffers, Associate General Counsel, MML
2009
John (Jack) E. Beras, City Attorney, Southfield (deceased)
Don M. Schmidt, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone PLC (Kalamazoo)
2008
Daniel C. Matson, City Attorney, DeWitt (deceased)
2007
James O. Branson, III, City Attorney, Midland
J. Anthony Sykora, City Attorney, Deckerville
2006
Carol A. Rosati, Johnson, Rosati, LaBarge, Aseltyne & Field PC
2005
Philip A. Balkema, City Attorney, Grand Rapids
Richard J. Figura, City Attorney, Swartz Creek
Burton R. Shifman, City Attorney, Oak Park
2003
Allan Grossman, City Attorney, Saline
1995
John Rae, City Attorney, Midland
1994
Peter A. Letzmann, City Attorney, Troy
1993
John M. Barr, City Attorney, Ypsilanti
1992
William C. Hultgren, City Attorney, Dearborn
Milton Firestone, Assistant Attorney General (deceased)
1991
R. Bruce Laidlaw, City Attorney, Ann Arbor
Oliver J. Golden, City Attorney, Monroe (deceased)
Thomas O’Toole, City Attorney, Muskegon (deceased)
1990
Paul O’Reilly, City Attorney, Sterling Heights (deceased)
1989
Harry Tatigian, City Attorney, Livonia (deceased)
1988
Richard Bringer, City Attorney, Coldwater (deceased)
1987
Louis C. Andrews, Jr., MML Staff Attorney (deceased)
1986
Dean G. Beier, City Attorney, Birmingham (deceased)
1985
Louis C. Andrews, Jr., MML Staff Attorney (deceased)
Gordon Cunningham, City Attorney, Holland
Proclamation of Excellence
2010
Bill McConico, Former City Attorney, Highland Park
Award of Excellence in Municipal Law and Governance
2009
Ed Zelenak
Richard A. Wendt
Proclamation of Excellence
2007
Ronald D. Keefe
Proclamation of Distinguished Service
2007
Keith Wallace
Special Award of Merit
2017
Brandon C. Hubbard