Marv Theut is
co- founder of the Middle Island Lightkeeper’s Association…
Marv Theut got
a big surprise at the recent Keeper’s Dinner at the Great Lakes
Lighthouse Festival when he was awarded the highest award the American
Lighthouse Foundation gives. Theut was presented with the foundation’s
“Keeper of the Light” award for his confounding of the Great Lakes
Lighthouse Festival, which will now be going into its seventh year.
Lynn Marvin
who co
Photo by Dee Leveille
ALF President Tim Harrison (right)
presents
the organization's highest honor,
“The
Keeper of the Light” award to Marv
Theut
(left) cofounder of the Great Lakes
Lighthouse Festival. Harrison also
presented
a “Keeper of the Light” award
posthumously to Lynn Marvin, who
co founded of the festival with Theut.
founded the Great Lakes
Lighthouse Festival along with Theut was also awarded the “Keeper of the
Light” award posthumously. Lynn was known in lighthouse circles as the Red
Baron of Lighthouses because of his great aerial photography, a tradition
now being continued by his son.
Tim Harrison,
president of the American Lighthouse Foundation, who presented the awards,
said that the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival, the biggest event of its kind
in the nation, has done more to draw attention to lighthouses than any other
event in the nation. Harrison praised Theut for his tireless effort and
total dedication to saving the history and heritage of Great Lakes
lighthouses. He went on to say how the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival has
given thousands of dollars to various Great Lakes lighthouses that otherwise
would not have the extra cash for various projects. Harrison also praised
Theut for the founding of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival Lighthouse
Museum to save many of the maritime artifacts of the area.
Harrison went on
to say, “I realize that Marv does not like to receive
Photo by Dee Leveille
Marv Theut, cofounder of the Great Lakes
Lighthouse Festival showing his American Lighthouse Foundation “Keeper
of the
Light” award to the audience at the
Keepers Dinner at the Great Lakes
Lighthouse Festival. Marv said he was
accepting the award on behalf on the many
people who help make the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival a success.
awards and
that he will say the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival’s success is
because of the many volunteers who make it possible. However, it is
important to remember that an event like this can not be successful
without a good leader at the helm, and Marv Theut is that leader.”
On the behalf
of the American Lighthouse Foundation, Harrison also present Marv with a
check in the amount of $2,500.00 to the Middle Island
Lightkeepers Association for the
ongoing restoration of the Middle Island Lighthouse,
which Theut is also founder of. Harrison went on to say that he hopes that
someday the city of Alpena and the State of Michigan will also recognize
Theut’s efforts, saying, “The Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival draws
thousands of people to Michigan and especially this part of Michigan who
might not otherwise of come here. Not only do these people visit the
lighthouses, they stay in area hotels, eat in the restaurants, stop at the
gas stations and visit other historic sites. While doing so, they bring
tourism dollars into Michigan, thanks to a highly successful and well
organized Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival.”
