Heinz Riesenhuber
Encyclopedia
Heinz Riesenhuber is a German
politician (CDU) and was minister in the cabinets of Helmut Kohl
from 1982 until 1993.
) in 1955 in Frankfurt am Main. He studied economics and chemistry until 1961. Afterward, he worked for four years as a researcher in the department of chemistry at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität and earned a Doctorate
degree in chemistry in 1965.
From 1966 to 1982 he worked for Metallgesellschaft
AG, Frankfurt/Main. Within the Metallgesellschaft Group he was CEO for the subsidiary "Erzgesellschaft mbH" (from 1968), and 1971 to 1982 Chief technical officer
of "Synthomer Chemie GmbH", another subsidiary.
) in Hessen. He was chairman of CDU Frankfurt from 1973 to 1978. In 1979 he was elected as a chairman of CDU district Untermain.
Since 1976, he served as member of the federal German legislature, the Bundestag
. On October 4, 1982, he was appointed Minister of Scientific Research. He served as such until January 21, 1993.
In 2009 he became the 17th Alterspräsident (Father of the House
) of the Bundestag due to his status as the oldest member of the legislature.
Dr. h.c. from
. He always wears such a tie. In his Political campaigns for the Bundestag he used a poster
showing only a bow tie in the German national colours: Black, red and gold. Neither his name nor his party was mentioned but everybody in his constituency recognized Riesenhuber.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
politician (CDU) and was minister in the cabinets of Helmut Kohl
Helmut Kohl
Helmut Josef Michael Kohl is a German conservative politician and statesman. He was Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998 and the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union from 1973 to 1998...
from 1982 until 1993.
Life and education
Riesenhuber received his high school diploma (AbiturAbitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
) in 1955 in Frankfurt am Main. He studied economics and chemistry until 1961. Afterward, he worked for four years as a researcher in the department of chemistry at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität and earned a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
degree in chemistry in 1965.
From 1966 to 1982 he worked for Metallgesellschaft
Metallgesellschaft
Metallgesellschaft AG was formerly one of Germany's largest industrial conglomerates based in Frankfurt. It had over 20,000 employees and revenues in excess of 10 billion US dollars...
AG, Frankfurt/Main. Within the Metallgesellschaft Group he was CEO for the subsidiary "Erzgesellschaft mbH" (from 1968), and 1971 to 1982 Chief technical officer
Chief technical officer
A chief technology officer is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupant is focused on scientific and technological issues within an organization....
of "Synthomer Chemie GmbH", another subsidiary.
Political career
Riesenhuber became a member of the CDU in 1961. Between 1965 and 1969 he was head of the youth organization of CDU (Junge UnionJunge Union
The Junge Union Deutschlands or JU is the jointyouth organisation of the two conservative German political parties CDU and CSU...
) in Hessen. He was chairman of CDU Frankfurt from 1973 to 1978. In 1979 he was elected as a chairman of CDU district Untermain.
Since 1976, he served as member of the federal German legislature, the Bundestag
Bundestag
The Bundestag is a federal legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag is established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier...
. On October 4, 1982, he was appointed Minister of Scientific Research. He served as such until January 21, 1993.
In 2009 he became the 17th Alterspräsident (Father of the House
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
) of the Bundestag due to his status as the oldest member of the legislature.
Honors
Riesenhuber earned a Honorary degreeHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
Dr. h.c. from
- Weizmann Institute of ScienceWeizmann Institute of ScienceThe Weizmann Institute of Science , known as Machon Weizmann, is a university and research institute in Rehovot, Israel. It differs from other Israeli universities in that it offers only graduate and post-graduate studies in the sciences....
in Rehovot (Israel) - University of KrakauJagiellonian UniversityThe Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
(Poland) - University of SurreyUniversity of SurreyThe University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
(England) - University of Göttingen, 1997
Trivia
His personal brand is his Bow tieBow tie
The bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
. He always wears such a tie. In his Political campaigns for the Bundestag he used a poster
Poster
A poster is any piece of printed paper designed to be attached to a wall or vertical surface. Typically posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. Posters are designed to be both eye-catching and informative. Posters may be...
showing only a bow tie in the German national colours: Black, red and gold. Neither his name nor his party was mentioned but everybody in his constituency recognized Riesenhuber.