Heinz Prechter
Encyclopedia
Heinz Prechter a German
born entrepreneur
who founded the American Sunroof Company
(ASC) was a quintessential entrepreneur, legendary visionary, community leader and philanthropist. He was a close friend and avid fundraiser for the Bush Family
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/contributorsandpaybacks/pioneer_profile.cfm?pioneer_ID=161.
, Mr. Prechter furthered his education at Nuremberg's OHM Polytechnic Engineering School.
During his studies, Mr. Prechter gained a wide range of practical experience working for a number of German companies, including Faunwerke (a truck and military equipment supplier), Siemens (an electronics firm), and Deutz (a diesel engine manufacturer).
In 1963, he came to the U.S. as an exchange student. While studying Business Administration and English at San Francisco State College, he began installing sunroofs – then a virtually unknown product in the US.
Fifteen months later, in 1965, Prechter founded the American Sunroof Company (now ASC Incorporated) in Los Angeles. He spent US$764 on tools, a workbench from an old door covered with aluminum and a sewing machine from a junkyard. This one-man enterprise soon became well known for its "custom" sunroofs as well as its creative approach to supporting the development of specialty vehicles for the film industry.
, Michigan, the company employs approximately 1,000 employees at facilities throughout the U.S.
In addition to ASC, Prechter founded Heritage Network Inc., a group of Michigan companies involved in the transportation, hospitality and communications industries. His Heritage Network group included a weekly newspaper chain (one of the largest in the state of Michigan), a real estate
development company and a beef cattle business. In early 1997, he created Prechter Holdings, which owned the ASC and Heritage businesses.
Heinz Prechter was recognized for his entrepreneurial accomplishments, broad community involvement and political achievements.
He was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Harvard Business Club and received the Automotive Hall of Fame's Automotive Industry Leader of the Year award. He sat on many community and corporate boards, including those of Detroit Renaissance, Comerica Bank
and ThyssenKrupp
's automotive supervisory board.
was delivered by his good friend, Michigan Governor John Engler
. Mr. Prechter is survived by his wife and twin children.
President George W. Bush
issued a presidential press release saying, "Laura
and I were saddened to hear of the death of Heinz Prechter".
Health System, will advance breakthrough medical research — especially in the fields of psychiatric genetics
, pediatric bipolar disorder, neuroimaging
and neurosciences — to help find cures for bipolar disorder. In 2003 and 2004, Prechter awarded grants totaling almost $2 million to seven different universities to further advance breakthrough medical research to help develop cures for bipolar disorder. The Fund focused on research particularly in the fields of psychiatric genetics, pediatric bipolar disorder, neuroimaging and neurosciences.
On October 5, 2004 he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
.
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...
born entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
who founded the American Sunroof Company
American Specialty Cars
American Specialty Cars is an automobile supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers...
(ASC) was a quintessential entrepreneur, legendary visionary, community leader and philanthropist. He was a close friend and avid fundraiser for the Bush Family
Bush family
The Bush family is a prominent American family. Along with many members who have been successful bankers and businessmen, across three generations the family includes two U.S. Senators, one Supreme Court Justice, two Governors, one Vice President and two Presidents...
http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/contributorsandpaybacks/pioneer_profile.cfm?pioneer_ID=161.
Early life
Born in 1942 in Kleinhöbing, Germany, Mr. Prechter began his automotive career at the age of 13 as an apprentice in automotive trim, tool and die making and coach and body building. After completing his studies at the Berufs-Oberschule in NurembergNuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, Mr. Prechter furthered his education at Nuremberg's OHM Polytechnic Engineering School.
During his studies, Mr. Prechter gained a wide range of practical experience working for a number of German companies, including Faunwerke (a truck and military equipment supplier), Siemens (an electronics firm), and Deutz (a diesel engine manufacturer).
In 1963, he came to the U.S. as an exchange student. While studying Business Administration and English at San Francisco State College, he began installing sunroofs – then a virtually unknown product in the US.
Fifteen months later, in 1965, Prechter founded the American Sunroof Company (now ASC Incorporated) in Los Angeles. He spent US$764 on tools, a workbench from an old door covered with aluminum and a sewing machine from a junkyard. This one-man enterprise soon became well known for its "custom" sunroofs as well as its creative approach to supporting the development of specialty vehicles for the film industry.
American Sunroof Corporation
Today, ASC is a supplier of highly engineered and designed roof systems, body systems and other specialty-vehicle systems for the world’s automakers. Now headquartered in SouthgateSouthgate, Michigan
Southgate is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,047 at the 2010 census.Southgate was the last city to incorporate from the former Ecorse Township, gaining city status in October 1958...
, Michigan, the company employs approximately 1,000 employees at facilities throughout the U.S.
In addition to ASC, Prechter founded Heritage Network Inc., a group of Michigan companies involved in the transportation, hospitality and communications industries. His Heritage Network group included a weekly newspaper chain (one of the largest in the state of Michigan), a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
development company and a beef cattle business. In early 1997, he created Prechter Holdings, which owned the ASC and Heritage businesses.
Heinz Prechter was recognized for his entrepreneurial accomplishments, broad community involvement and political achievements.
He was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Harvard Business Club and received the Automotive Hall of Fame's Automotive Industry Leader of the Year award. He sat on many community and corporate boards, including those of Detroit Renaissance, Comerica Bank
Comerica
Comerica Incorporated is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, USA. It has retail banking operations in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas; and select business operations in several other U.S...
and ThyssenKrupp
ThyssenKrupp
ThyssenKrupp AG is a German multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Duisburg Essen, Germany. The corporation consists of 670 companies worldwide. While ThyssenKrupp is one of the world's largest steel producers, the company also provides components and systems for the automotive...
's automotive supervisory board.
Death
He died from suicide on July 6, 2001, after battling intermittent bouts of manic depression for most of his adult life. http://bipolar.about.com/cs/celebs/a/heinzprechter.htm Seven hundred people gathered for Prechter's funeral. The eulogyEulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
was delivered by his good friend, Michigan Governor John Engler
John Engler
John Mathias Engler is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as the 46th Governor of Michigan from 1991 to 2003....
. Mr. Prechter is survived by his wife and twin children.
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
issued a presidential press release saying, "Laura
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
and I were saddened to hear of the death of Heinz Prechter".
After Death
His widow Waltraud "Wally" Prechter established a foundation in her husband's memory in October 2001. The Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Fund at The University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
Health System, will advance breakthrough medical research — especially in the fields of psychiatric genetics
Psychiatric genetics
Psychiatric genetics, a subfield of behavioral neurogenetics, studies the role of genetics in psychological conditions such as alcoholism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism. The basic principle behind psychiatric genetics is that genetic polymorphisms, as indicated by linkage to e.g...
, pediatric bipolar disorder, neuroimaging
Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging includes the use of various techniques to either directly or indirectly image the structure, function/pharmacology of the brain...
and neurosciences — to help find cures for bipolar disorder. In 2003 and 2004, Prechter awarded grants totaling almost $2 million to seven different universities to further advance breakthrough medical research to help develop cures for bipolar disorder. The Fund focused on research particularly in the fields of psychiatric genetics, pediatric bipolar disorder, neuroimaging and neurosciences.
On October 5, 2004 he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
Automotive Hall of Fame
The Automotive Hall of Fame is an American museum and hall of fame covering automotive innovations.-Location:Located in the metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, the museum shares a parking lot with The Henry Ford.-External links:*...
.