2025 Stohlman Award Presentations: Al Stohlman Award
Aaron Heizer, this year’s recipient of the Al Stohlman Award for Achievement in Leathercraft, was introduced to creating with leather as a young Boy Scout working on a leathercraft merit badge. He went on to earn the rank of Eagle, Scouting’s highest rank.
After spending a few years in community college, he enlisted in the Army, rising to the rank of Sergeant First Class. Along the way, he served two tours in Baghdad, earning two Bronze Stars and two Meritorious Service Medals. While serving as a prison guard at the Naval brig in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the need for a brig badge holder sent him to the local craft store for leather and lace. He said the holder was crude, but for starters, it held the badge and secondly, he could not wait to make something else out of leather.
While looking for a new career after leaving the Army, he remembered his love for working with leather, and the rest is history.
I know of very few people who have done as much in the way of promoting the art of working with leather, first by mastering many techniques, then passing on the knowledge through teaching. In addition to teaching through many hands-on and video workshops, he and his wife, Janie Sue, go out of their way to help communities and groups in need, including having raised funds to help evacuees of the 2016 Hurricane Harvey that devastated the Texas coast.
They are currently promoting working with leather through the National and State FFA’s and AG Teachers Conventions. Another group Aaron is extremely passionate about helping are our nation’s veterans.
Over the last seven years, $20,000 worth of tools and materials have been donated to veterans by Makers Leather Supply, the leather company he developed into what it is today.
Teaching and sharing skills and experience in the art of creating with leather were the main criteria Al Stohlman emphasized that he wanted the Al Stohlman Award to focus on. I believe both Al and Ann Stohlman would have, without hesitation, heartily approved of this year’s recipient of the Award. Congratulations, Aaron!
Excerpted from the Leather Crafters Journal. Used with permission. Laier, Tony. “2025 Stohlman Award Presentations: Al Stohlman Award”. The Leather Crafters Journal. Jul/Aug 2025: p 36-37. Print.