Distinguished Professional Service
 Al and David Eicher were recognized for a remarkable body of professional media work to which they have been devoted, as the original nominator wrote, "as a labor of love for preserving the past." Much of their work involves creating presentations for local historical societies, library groups, and chambers of commerce. The Eicher’s demonstrate a wealth of creative talent in researching and producing historic documentary videos on an interesting variety of Michigan topics and communities. Since the early 1980s, Al, and more recently, his son David have created videos, engaging themselves in archival research, interviews with longtime residents of small towns, writing historically accurate scripts, and the production and marketing of their  local heritage-oriented video products. Their list of "preserving Michigan's history" videos in circulation across our state is remarkable. They have thousands of videotapes in circulation focusing on such places as Bad Axe, Caseville, Harbor Beach, Mackinac Island, Oxford, Pigeon, and Saline.
 (Photo courtesy of the Historical Society of Michigan , www.hsmichigan.org ).