HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — At 90, Les Hoogland has the right to say he’s done with public service.
He’s not done. The Zeeland native is keeping busy these days as a member of the West Michigan Regional Airport board of trustees.
Hoogland, turns 90 this week. He holds the record as Zeeland’s longest-serving mayor — 22 years in that seat, from 1989-2011, following eight years as a city councilman. He ran for an Ottawa County Commission seat, but narrowly lost.
His four children Todd, Julie, Gregg, and Jane, are hosting an afternoon reception from noon to 3:30 p.m. today, Jan. 23, 2020, at the Howard Miller Libarary, 14 S. Church St. in Zeeland. Hoogland’s wife, Viv, a former Zeeland teacher, died in 2017.
“Our families go way, way, way back. In fact, Les was my mom and dad’s best man at their wedding,” said Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Zeeland Republican, who wished Hoogland a happy birthday on WHTC, adding that he is one of a group of people in that generation, including Sally Gruppen, who “really just dedicated themselves to their community, who will do anything and every thing to tout Zeeland, and our area in West Michigan.”
He got into politics by following in his father Frank’s footsteps, Zeeland’s mayor for 12 years, Julie Hoogland told WHTC. (Listen to her complete interview.)
“My dad carried on the tradition of Hooglands being in community service in Zeeland,” she said. “And I will say, judged by the record of how much you love your community, he’s been the best mayor. He just loves that community.”
Les Hoogland graduated from Holland Christian High, served two years in the U.S. Army, and came home to be a diesel mechanic, serving “all those trucks for all the local businesses in Zeeland that needed trucks to get their business done.”
He retired in his mid-50s, she said, at a point where he’d have had to expand the business, or close it. He went on to work as a food broker and do other jobs, but mostly dedicated his time to serving the city of Zeeland.
As Zeeland’s mayor, he helped get the Howard Miller Library built. His birthday party today is in the library and community center’s Les Hoogland room.
