Lee Landes & Stephen Landes
Lee Landes (1924-2018) worked at Ford Motor Company until his retirement in 1980. While a Ford Motor employee, he received their highest award, the Bronze Bell. He was an active Naval Reservist, retiring in 1979 as a Rear Admiral. Because of his service, Lee received commendations from the Secretary of the Navy, the Commandant of the Ninth Naval District, the Director of the Defense Logistics Agency, and the Legion of Merit medal from the President of the United States. Lee received his bachelor’s degree in economics and industrial management in 1944 and his MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1949. Lee was always active in community affairs and gave generously of his time and encouragement to many organizations. After the death of their son, George, who was killed by a drunk driver, Lee and his first wife, Sue, organized chapters of MADD across Michigan. Lee was elected to MADD’s national board and led a successful campaign for three new comprehensive anti-drunk driving laws in Michigan. He helped establish the Michigan Victim Alliance and the Prevention Network, of which he also served on the board of directors.
Stephen Landes (1951-2014) received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and an MBA from Eastern Michigan University. The majority of his career was at the Ford Motor Company, from which he retired after 35 years. Stephen was a past president of the Navy League Ann Arbor Chapter, a founder and past president of MADD in Ann Arbor, president of the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Sherlock Holmes Society, the Sons of Norway local chapter, and past president of the Glacier Area Homeowner’s Association.
The Suzanne Harriet Pearson Landes and James Hazelton Pearson Scholarship was established in 1991 by Suzanne’s husband, Lee, and their son, Stephen. The scholarship was established in honor of Suzanne and her brother, James.
Suzanne was a former high school English teacher. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1942 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. Sue loved to write and even won a limerick contest sponsored by the Free Press’ Detroit magazine. She passed away in 1997 at the age of 76.
Reverend James H. Pearson was a rector at St. Andrew Episcopal Church in Edwardsville, Illinois from 1963 until his death in 1968. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from UW Oshkosh in 1943 and later graduated from the Episcopal Seminary at Nashotah House in 1949. James was a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, serving in the pacific during World War II.