4/18/02

Robert Heft, the designer of America's current national flag, will be this year's State Bar of Michigan Law Day speaker on Wednesday, May 1 in downtown Lansing. A luncheon to celebrate the event is sponsored by the Michigan Lawyer's Auxiliary and will take place at the sixth floor auditorium of the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

The luncheon will honor sixth, seventh and eight grade Law Day essay contest winners. The theme this year is "Assuring Equal Justice for All." The Crystal Apple Award honoring a K-12 teacher who has made outstanding contributions through law-related education will also be presented by the Michigan Lawyer's Auxiliary during the luncheon.

Heft is a much sought after speaker who travels extensively both in this country and abroad. His road to fame began in 1958 when as a high school junior he designed the 50-star flag as part of an American history class project. Although unfamiliar with needlework, he managed to arrange and sew a new combination of stars that would become the nation's 27th "Old Glory" on July 4, 1960.

Now retired, Heft spent 30 years as a teacher. He has served seven terms as mayor of Napoleon, Ohio and 25 years as a real estate broker. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, but raised in Ohio, Heft recently returned to his native city and is the education manager for the Saginaw County Junior Achievement. He is also active in Habitat for Humanity and the Lions Club.

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