Leaders & Pioneers
Al Stohlman
Award Winners
The leather crafting world is a tight-knit community of caring folks. Through competitions around the globe, quality work and contributions to the profession are recognized.
Leaders & Pioneers
The leather crafting world is a tight-knit community of caring folks. Through competitions around the globe, quality work and contributions to the profession are recognized.
The most notable award, is the Al Stohlman Award. It honors the accomplishments of individual leather workers worldwide for their continued dedication and exemplary service to leathercraft.
It is the most prestegious award in leathercraft, and each of the winners has made significant contributions to the trade. Below, you can learn more about the winners, where they’re from, and what they are most known for.
Year Name From Known For 2020 Jurgen Volbach Cologne, Germany Leather Carving 2019 Honghao Cai Beijing, China Leather Carving 2018 Jim Jackson Wyoming, USA Saddlery 2017 Serge Volken Lausanne, Switzerland Historical Leather 2016 Kathy Flanagan Colorado, USA Leather Art 2015 Bob Park Arizona, USA Saddlery 2014 None Awarded - - 2013 Akiko Okada Kanagawa, Japan Leather Art 2013 Wayne Christensen California, USA Leather Teaching 2012 Kay Orton Colorado, USA Leather Teaching 2011 Don Butler Wyoming, USA Saddlery 2010 Bob Klenda Colorado, USA Saddlery 2010 Harold Bligan Indiana, USA Leather Traching 2009 Al Gould California, USA Saddlery 2008 Cherryl McIntyre Brisbane, Australia Leather Teaching 2007 Pete Gorrell Montana, USA Saddlery 2006 Verlane Desgrange Florida, USA Leather Teaching 2005 Chan Geer Montana, USA Saddlery 2004 Al Shelton California, USA Leather Art 2004 Bill & Dot Reis Wisconsin, USA Leather Publishers 2003 Jim Lind Wyoming, USA Leather Teaching 2002 Jim Linnell Montana, USA Leather Teaching 2001 Jesse Smith Washington, USA Saddlery 2000 Roz Kaohn New Jersey, USA Leather Teaching 1999 Tony Laier Colorado, USA Leather Teaching 1998 Don King Wyoming, USA Saddlery 1998 Peter Main Sydney, Australia Leather Crafting 1997 Silva Fox Tennessee, USA Leather Sculpting 1996 Chuck Smith Texas, USA Leather Teaching 1995 Beth Berry Wyoming, USA Leather Teaching 1994 Ava Ostrander Florida, USA Leather Teaching 1993 Dick Giehl Missouri, USA Leather Writer 1992 Ben Moody Texas, USA Saddlery 1991 George Hurst Pennsylvania, USA Leather Writer 1990 None Awarded - - 1989 Karla Van Horne Ontario, Canada Leather Carving 1988 Kat Kuszak Nebraska, USA Leather Carving 1987 Robert "Bob" Beard South Carolina, USA Leather Tools 1986 Bill Gomer Kansas, USA Saddlery 1985 Robb Barr North Dakota, USA Leather Teaching 1984 Roberta & Ken Griffin Oklahoma, USA Leather Teaching 1983 Paul Burnett Tennessee, USA Leather Teaching
|
2022 |
Chris “Slickbald” Andre |
Colorado, USA |
Leather Carving |
|
2021 |
Michiko Matsuda |
Japan |
Leather Art |
| 2020 | Jurgen Volbach | Cologne, Germany | Leather Carving |
| 2019 | Honghao Cai | Beijing, China | Leather Carving |
| 2018 | Jim Jackson | Wyoming, USA | Saddlery |
| 2017 | Serge Volken | Lausanne, Switzerland | Historical Leather |
| 2016 | Kathy Flanagan | Colorado, USA | Leather Art |
| 2015 | Bob Park | Arizona, USA | Saddlery |
| 2014 | None Awarded | – | – |
| 2013 | Akiko Okada | Kanagawa, Japan | Leather Art |
| 2013 | Wayne Christensen | California, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 2012 | Kay Orton | Colorado, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 2011 | Don Butler | Wyoming, USA | Saddlery |
| 2010 | Bob Klenda | Colorado, USA | Saddlery |
| 2010 | Harold Bligan | Indiana, USA | Leather Traching |
| 2009 | Al Gould | California, USA | Saddlery |
| 2008 | Cherryl McIntyre | Brisbane, Australia | Leather Teaching |
| 2007 | Pete Gorrell | Montana, USA | Saddlery |
| 2006 | Verlane Desgrange | Florida, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 2005 | Chan Geer | Montana, USA | Saddlery |
| 2004 | Al Shelton | California, USA | Leather Art |
| 2004 | Bill & Dot Reis | Wisconsin, USA | Leather Publishers |
| 2003 | Jim Lind | Wyoming, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 2002 | Jim Linnell | Montana, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 2001 | Jesse Smith | Washington, USA | Saddlery |
| 2000 | Roz Kaohn | New Jersey, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 1999 | Tony Laier | Colorado, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 1998 | Don King | Wyoming, USA | Saddlery |
| 1998 | Peter Main | Sydney, Australia | Leather Crafting |
| 1997 | Silva Fox | Tennessee, USA | Leather Sculpting |
| 1996 | Chuck Smith | Texas, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 1995 | Beth Berry | Wyoming, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 1994 | Ava Ostrander | Florida, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 1993 | Dick Giehl | Missouri, USA | Leather Writer |
| 1992 | Ben Moody | Texas, USA | Saddlery |
| 1991 | George Hurst | Pennsylvania, USA | Leather Writer |
| 1990 | None Awarded | – | – |
| 1989 | Karla Van Horne | Ontario, Canada | Leather Carving |
| 1988 | Kat Kuszak | Nebraska, USA | Leather Carving |
|
1987 |
Robert “Bob” Beard |
South Carolina, USA |
Leather Tools |
| 1986 | Bill Gomer | Kansas, USA | Saddlery |
| 1985 | Robb Barr | North Dakota, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 1984 | Roberta & Ken Griffin | Oklahoma, USA | Leather Teaching |
| 1983 | Paul Burnett | Tennessee, USA | Leather Teaching |
If you are curious for more information about each of the winners, Elk Tracks Studio (click here to visit the page) has put together extensive biographies that are a valuable read.
Get detailed leather GUIDES and our NEWSLETTER packed with helpful info.