Jack Heise
Encyclopedia
John Irvin "Jack" Heise, Jr. was an important benefactor of the University of Maryland
. His dedication to Terrapins
sports earned him the nickname "Mr. Maryland".
. He then went on to the University of Maryland starting in 1941, before he put his education on hold to serve in the Second World War. He served in the United States Army Air Forces
as a B-24 pilot over Europe. After the war, he returned to Maryland, where he played on the lacrosse team. As an undergraduate, he was also the manager of the basketball team
. He was a member of the Sigma Chi
fraternity, which later honored him with its Significant Sig Award.
Heise graduated from Maryland in 1947, and then attended law school
at the University of Virginia
, from which he graduated in 1950. In 1949, Heise married Jacqueline née Morley, whom he had met while she was a cheerleader at Maryland.
, and in the 1950s, entered private practice. In 1970, he became a principal partner in the Heise, Jorgenson, & Stefanelli law firm in Gaithersburg, Maryland
, which specializes in government claims and commercial law. Heise worked there until his death.
and basketball
game, and his avid fanhood earned him the nickname "Mr. Maryland". From 1946 to 2009, he attended all but two Atlantic Coast Conference
basketball tournaments, and when Maryland was a member of the league, Southern Conference
tournaments. After each game, Heise sent handwritten notes to the teams' coaches. He often attended games with columnist Robert Novak
, another avid Maryland sports fan. Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen
called Heise "really one of the all-time supporters of Maryland athletics." The Baltimore Sun
wrote, "In an era in which other schools' boosters often become best known for trying to unseat struggling coaches, Mr. Heise was relentlessly positive."
Heise served as president of the Terrapin Club and the M Club, the university's two main booster groups. He donated significant contributions to the school and was a member of the Terrapin Club Lifetime Giving Society for donors of at least $250,000. Heise was one of the top donors to the university's athletic program. In 2007, the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
inducted him for meritorious service. Heise was the first inductee in that category.
He died of a cerebral hemorrhage on October 5, 2009 at his home in Bethesda, Maryland
. He was 84 years of age. After his death, the football team
honored his memory by wearing Heise's initials on their helmets for the remainder of the 2009 season.
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. His dedication to Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
sports earned him the nickname "Mr. Maryland".
Early life
Heise was born on December 13, 1924 in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Baltimore City CollegeBaltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
. He then went on to the University of Maryland starting in 1941, before he put his education on hold to serve in the Second World War. He served in the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
as a B-24 pilot over Europe. After the war, he returned to Maryland, where he played on the lacrosse team. As an undergraduate, he was also the manager of the basketball team
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
. He was a member of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity, which later honored him with its Significant Sig Award.
Heise graduated from Maryland in 1947, and then attended law school
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, from which he graduated in 1950. In 1949, Heise married Jacqueline née Morley, whom he had met while she was a cheerleader at Maryland.
Professional career
Heise worked as a trial attorney for the Justice DepartmentUnited States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, and in the 1950s, entered private practice. In 1970, he became a principal partner in the Heise, Jorgenson, & Stefanelli law firm in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
, which specializes in government claims and commercial law. Heise worked there until his death.
Maryland fanhood
Over a 60-year period, Heise attended almost every home and road Maryland footballMaryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
and basketball
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
game, and his avid fanhood earned him the nickname "Mr. Maryland". From 1946 to 2009, he attended all but two Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
basketball tournaments, and when Maryland was a member of the league, Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
tournaments. After each game, Heise sent handwritten notes to the teams' coaches. He often attended games with columnist Robert Novak
Robert Novak
Robert David Sanders "Bob" Novak was an American syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, author, and conservative political commentator. After working for two newspapers before serving for the U.S. Army in the Korean War, he became a reporter for the Associated Press and then for...
, another avid Maryland sports fan. Maryland football coach Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
called Heise "really one of the all-time supporters of Maryland athletics." The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
wrote, "In an era in which other schools' boosters often become best known for trying to unseat struggling coaches, Mr. Heise was relentlessly positive."
Heise served as president of the Terrapin Club and the M Club, the university's two main booster groups. He donated significant contributions to the school and was a member of the Terrapin Club Lifetime Giving Society for donors of at least $250,000. Heise was one of the top donors to the university's athletic program. In 2007, the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
inducted him for meritorious service. Heise was the first inductee in that category.
He died of a cerebral hemorrhage on October 5, 2009 at his home in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
. He was 84 years of age. After his death, the football team
2009 Maryland Terrapins football team
The 2009 Maryland Terrapins football team represented the University of Maryland during its 57th season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Terrapins played in the Atlantic Division of the conference, and competed against all five divisional opponents, two Coastal Division opponents on a...
honored his memory by wearing Heise's initials on their helmets for the remainder of the 2009 season.