Longtime Sturgis community activist receives Golden Deeds award

Dan Cherry, Sturgis Journal
·2 min read

STURGIS — A longtime and active member of the community has received the Exchange Club of Sturgis Book of Golden Deeds award.

Eric Eishen was presented the award March 16 during a luncheon, recognizing his many years of service across numerous organizations and groups. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Sturgis Bancorp Inc. and as executive vice president and chief strategy officer of Sturgis Bank and Trust Co. He is a 1983 graduate of Sturgis High School, having come to the city in 1976 at age 11.

Eric Eishen
Eric Eishen

The National Exchange Club’s Book of Golden Deeds award recognizes dedicated volunteers who give many hours of time and talent toward the betterment of their community. The Exchange Club of Sturgis has presented the award since 1940. Recipients are chosen based on the following criteria:

  • Provides outstanding service to the Sturgis community beyond their regular job or profession

  • Provides unselfish sharing of personal time for the betterment of the community

  • Encourages others to serve the community

Eishen, who was also the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce's 2018 Citizen of the Year, has served on several banking boards and committees of the Michigan Bankers Association. He is a past chairman of the Perry School of Banking and board member of the MBA Perry Schools of Banking board of trustees. He was honored as the 2014 Banker of the Year by the Michigan Bankers Association.

He is a board member the Sturgis Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees, the Sturgis Area Community Foundation Finance Committee, the Sturgis Downtown Development Authority, the Sturgis Improvement Association, Sturgis Economic Development Corp., St. Joseph County EDGE, Sturgis Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, MiBankPAC, the Michigan State Chamber of Commerce; as well as Tillers International, an organization specializing in practical and animal handling skills to be used in international development, farming or personal growth.

Eishen is a past president and past board member of the Sturgis Area Business/Education Alliance, the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph County United Way, Sturgis Junior Achievement, Kiwanis Club of Sturgis and St. Joseph County Pheasants Forever.

He is currently a member of the Sturgis Kiwanis Club, Sturgis Shrine Club, Masonic Lodge, St. Joseph County Conservation and Sportsman Club, St. Joseph County Pheasants Forever, and is an active business partner at Sturgis High School.

At Thursday's ceremony, three friends of Eishen spoke on his behalf: Tom Duke, who compiled Eishen's accomplishments into a poem; Dave Ludders, who expanded on Eishen's efforts at Camp Fort Hill near Klinger Lake; and Randy Pahls, who said Eishen is "like a best friend to Sturgis."

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Longtime Sturgis community activist receives Golden Deeds award