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DOWAGIAC — The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce recognized Leon “Andy” Anderson for his innumerable contributions to the community during a ceremony Wednesday evening at the Dowagiac Area History Museum. 

President Kris Soenen presented the retired businessman and former politician with the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The chamber also announced they are planting a tree in his honor by his late wife Jane’s favorite sculpture, Mount ‘N View. 

The event featured speeches from James Snow and Museum Director Steve Arseneau as well as a proclamation presentation from State Representative Brad Paquette.

“Andy clearly has long had a desire and will to serve a greater Dowagiac community through board work, city councilperson, elected office and volunteerism,” Arseneau said. “People like Andy and others in this room who put in a lot of time doing great Deeds for the community are an example for my generation when we retire. When we retire, we can’t just go sit down; we need to step in and be that next generation that’s going to come in and further our community and make it a better community.”

Anderson, who has lived in Dowagiac for 47 years, raised his three sons here with his late wife, Jane.   

A self-proclaimed fan of Teddy Roosevelt, Anderson’s office in their Victorian home at 601 Main Street paid tribute to the 26th president of the United States.  Decorated in period-style furnishings, their family home was featured on three home tours.

Anderson’s presidential collection is a nod to his lifelong interest in local history and politics. 

In 1977, after an eight-year stint with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, the Andersons moved to Dowagiac, where he joined his father Leon Sr. in business at Dowagiac Stationers.  In the late-1970s and early-1980s, Anderson served on the Retail Business Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, later serving on the Michigan Small Business Association Board of Directors.

During the 1980s, Anderson turned his attention to local politics.  In 1983 he was elected to the Dowagiac City Council, where he represented the First Ward.  From 1987 to 1990, he served as Mayor Pro-tem under the late Mayor James Burke.  

During his tenure with City Council, Anderson served on the Board of Dowagiac Health Systems, working to bring additional health care providers to rural areas of Cass and Van Buren counties.  He is also a former vice chairman of Region One of the Michigan Municipal League and a former chairman of Dowagiac Elected Officials Compensation Committee.

Anderson was elected to the Cass County Board of Commissions in 1990, representing the City of Dowagiac.  During his stint with the county, he was chairman of the Cass County Planning Commission, later serving as chair of the Law & Courts Committee. 

An active member of the Cass County Republican Party, he served as precinct delegate, representing the city’s first ward.  He is a former chairman of the Republican Executive Committee, serving from 2017 to 2020.  During that time he served on the Republican 6th Congressional District Executive Committee and was a three-time delegate to the Michigan Republican Party Convention.    

Passionate about local history, Anderson remains an active supporter of the Dowagiac Area History Museum and has worked to secure two State of Michigan Historic Markers.  He was a founding director of the Historic Dowagiac Association and chaired its home tours from 1992 to 2000. 

Anderson has been active in the First United Methodist Church, where he served as a Sunday school superintendent and was a three-year lay member to the West Michigan Conference. 

In 1998 Anderson started a consulting company that worked to expand wireless phone services in the Midwest.

In retirement he volunteered as market master of the Dowagiac Farm & Artisan Market and portrayed the first town crier of the Chamber’s Candlelight Christmas Parade.

Anderson thanked the Chamber for the award as well as those in attendance and encouraged everyone to get more involved in local government to make positive changes in the community.

“What happens in this country happens on ground level and that’s city and county government,” Anderson said. “I would encourage anybody that wants to get involved to do so. You’re going to have a far bigger impact on your community working in your city as an elected official or an appointed official in the city or county than you will ever have working in state or national politics.”