This is True®
by Randy CassinghamRandy Cassingham's Honorary Unsubscribe Recognizes the Unknown, the Forgotten and the Obscure People who Had an Impact on Our Lives
Robert G. Heft
Copyright 1998-2012 ThisisTrue.Inc, all rights reserved. May not be copied or archived without express, prior, written permission. "This is True" is a registered trademark of ThisisTrue.Inc, Ridgway Colorado. 11725
In 1958, when Heft was 17, it became clear that the United States would bring Alaska, and then Hawaii, into the Union. The U.S. Flag, which had 48 stars to represent the 48 states, needed to be redesigned with 50 stars. Heft rebuilt a family flag as a class project in school in Lancaster, Ohio, and got a "B-" for the project. When he submitted his design to President Dwight D. Eisenhower -- one of more than 1,500 people to do so -- his teacher agreed to revisit the grade if Heft's design was chosen. Later that year someone called him on the phone: it was President Eisenhower, calling to say Heft's design had been chosen. (And Heft's teacher revised his grade to "A".) Heft's 50-star design became official on the 4th of July after Hawaii was admitted to the Union (on August 21, 1959), and is still the official flag today. Heft, who was a high school teacher and later a college professor, served as mayor of Napoleon, Ohio, for 28 years. After retiring from teaching, he became a motivational speaker, telling the story of his contribution to history -- at an estimated 200 engagements per year. He died December 12 at 67.
From This is True for 13 December 2009
About the HUs
About This is TrueSubscribe Free
to This is TruePrev: Safety engineer H. Harrison Hurt
Next: Fertility savior Walter E. Stamm