Two years after his death in 2016, Grand Rapids Philanthropist Ralph Hauenstein received the MAK Award Thursday evening from the Michigan Historical Commission. Named after Gov. William G. Milliken, Michigan Historical Commission member Elizabeth Sparks Adams and Attorney General Frank Kelley, the MAK award is given to someone who has played a key role in preserving the history of Michigan.
“In Col. Hauentstein’s career, he has done a significant number of things," Michigan Historical Commissioner Joe Calvaruso said. "He helped preserve antiquities in World War Two, he helped break the code which ultimately led to the Allied victory in World War Two, and then on a more recent basis, he gave a huge amount of support of his time and talent for the public museum, the Gerald Ford Museum, and the Hauenstein center, which is incredible. In one room, you can find all of the books written by US Presidents. That is just an amazing collection that they have put together,” he said.
On hand at the ceremony was author and historian H.W. Brands who spoke about what Hauenstein has meant to his own historical research.
“Ralph was a very generous contributor," Brands said. "The benefactor of the Hauenstein Center which has become principal of studies of presidencies. And in that regard he has been a great benefit to people like me. You know he was a treasure and he’s deeply missed, but—he continues to carry on his good work through the endowment that funds the Hauenstein Center.
The Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University is dedicated to raising a community of ethical, effective leaders for the twenty-first century according to their website. Ralph Hauenstein died at the age of 103.
