Lenawee Leadership Award
Honoring individuals or couples who exemplify the belief that Lenawee’s future depends on the quality of its leadership.
Recipients of this award are visionary leaders who inspire others and make a lasting difference across our county.
Robert L. Vogel
2025 Lenawee Leadership Award Recipient
Vogel graduated as salutatorian from Clinton High School.
He worked at Hardwoods of Michigan in the village of Clinton for 43 years, serving as vice president for nine years and president for 20 years, while also serving as president for Walker Lumber Bigler, PA, and vice president of Kansas City Hardwoods, MO.
He was named one of the 50 most influential people in the hardwood industry in North America in 2010.
Vogel has served the Lenawee community on numerous boards and committees. He served on the Herrick Hospital Development Board, the ProMedica Herrick Hospital Board, and the ProMedica North Region Board, Lenawee Intermediate School District Board.
He currently serves on the boards of Hospice of Lenawee (since 2013), Habitat for Humanity of Lenawee County (Treasurer), Sam Beaufort Woodworking Institute (charter board member), and the Lenawee Community Foundation (since 1999).
Vogel is a member of the Lenawee Cares Pillars Club and helped start the Clinton Area Fund. He is a charter member, active participant, and donator to the Hunters Helping Lenawee initiative which donated a record 5,185 pounds of venison to the Lenawee community for the 2024-25 hunting season.
Vogel believes you can go far in life without leaving town through involvement in your community and its causes. He works hard for our community and quietly lives each day as an example of the quality of leadership that determines a positive future for our county.
Award History:
The Lenawee Leadership Award, presented by the Lenawee Community Foundation, honors individuals or couples who exemplify a simple yet powerful truth: the future of our county depends on the quality of its leadership.
Originally known as the Maple Leaf Award and presented by the Lenawee Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), the award was established in 1953 to recognize exceptional community leadership. When the award’s focus no longer aligned with the LEDC’s core business, the Lenawee Community Foundation was honored to continue its legacy.
Past Maple Leaf Award recipients remain recognized as part of this distinguished group.
The prestigious award was renamed the Lenawee Leadership Award. The honor now reflects a county-wide vision and celebrates excellence across all areas that shape Lenawee’s quality of life, including civic engagement, culture, health, education, and human services.
“We are honored to continue the tradition of recognizing outstanding community leaders and the impact they have on our community and its future,” said Dave Hickman, Chairman of the Lenawee Community Foundation Board of Directors.
The award’s focus on the future mirrors the Foundation’s dedication to building Lenawee’s long-term strength. By investing charitable gifts for the future, the Lenawee Community Foundation turns generosity into lasting impact—funding programs that bring health, happiness, and hope to Lenawee County year after year.
Past Recipients