JUDGES

 

Mike Lunter, a native of St. Louis has been involved in local community activism for several years.  He was the first paid employee at Food Outreach Inc. where he managed the office, monitored client activity, and supplied the kitchen volunteers with their bi-weekly food preparation supplies.  Mike also began the first significant other support group for St. Louis Effort for AIDS and this lead him to pursue his master's degree in clinical social work.

 

Having an interest in the Leather Community, Mike began a journey of self-exploration and met individuals in the community who supported him.  In 2009 he won the Mr. Missouri Leather competition and went on to take 9th place at International Mister Leather in Chicago later that year.  Since then, he has been actively promoting the Leather Lifestyle within the community and helping other organizations with their fundraising efforts.  "This past year has been one of the best in my life and I owe it all to the great support St. Louis and Missouri has shown me." 

 

Mike has previously been a judge for the Mr. Heartland Bear contest in St. Louis and the Mr. Bare Chest contest in Detroit.  When not promoting leather and other related activities, he can be seen at various rodeos throughout the country and is a board member of the Gateway Gay Rodeo Association.  He resides on a farm in Washington, MO with his husband of 20 years where they raise horses, dairy goats, sheep and chickens.

Charlie Schoenherr, Mr. Midwest Leather 2008 & 2009

 

Charlie Schoenherr

A local boy (Collinsville, IL and St. Louis), Charlie has been active in the Leather/BDSM community for many years. He was one of the original members of The St. Louis Boys of Leather, on the Show-me Classic Gay Bowling League and a current member of the Gateway Gay Rodeo Association. He owns Mane Country Hair Salon in Webster Groves,Missouri.

In 2008 friends encouraged Charlie to enter the Mr Missouri Leather contest where he placed first runner up. It was such an great experience, he competed in the Mr. Midwest Leather contest a month later and won the title.

"It's been an incredible experience taking me to cities across the region and meeting amazing people in the community."  The Mr. Midwest Leather title encompasses 13 states. The title also led to him participating in IML in Chicago two years running. 

As Mr. Midwest Leather he adopted PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support, an AIDS service organization) as his charity and raised money for the group as well as local organizations when visiting other cities. He was asked to retain the title in 2009.

An important part of his duties is bringing the Leather lifestyle and message to non-Leather affiliated groups and clubs, businesses and communities. He feels that the non-Leather world - both LGBT and straight - can learn a lot from the volunteer networking, community building and service-minded fraternity of the Leather world. By getting the two world's - Leather and non-Leather - working together, there's no limit to what we can achieve.

Charlie will be producing the next Mr. Midwest Leather contest in September, 2010, and is working to bring Leathermen from all across the region to compete. Read more at www.MrMidwestLthr08.wordpress.com.

A single man looking for that special partner, family (in Illinois and Ohio) is very important to Charlie. He's also the proud parent of three over-active Yorkies rescued by various agencies and now running his home.

His spare time is spent searching flea markets and estate sales to add to his ever-growing collection of vintage lunch boxes (up to 150 at last count).