New stars for Old Glory: Bob Heft's story

By Bob Krumm

Each week local subscribers receive a free copy of American Profile, filled with great features. The publisher of the magazine also produces books. The most recent is titled a collection of real stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things all across America.

Included is the story about a Ohio man, Bob Heft, who invented the 50-star U.S. Flag while he was still in high school. We reprint a condensed version of the article, here, for your enjoyment.

Bob Heft says a "B-minus" on his high school history project changed his life forever and ensures his place in history as the designer of America's 50-star flag.

It was 1958, and Heft was a 17-year-old student at Lancaster High School in Lancaster, when his teacher assigned a visual history project to his class. Heft was intrigued by the proposed addition of Alaska to the United States. He knew additional states would mean the nation would redesign its 48-star flag.

"I also know that Alaska was a primarily Democratic state, so I figured Congress would also want to add a Republican state before the 1960 presidential election," he says, referring to the addition of Hawaii. "So, I decided to make a model of a 50-star flag for my project."

Heft's grandmother, with whom he lived, was not pleased when her grandson began taking apart the family's flag. Undeterred, he worked for more than 12 hours, painstakingly cutting out white stars and placing them onto a piece of blue broadcloth -- 50 stars on each side -- then sewing the blue field back onto the red and white stripes. Heft, who had never operated a sewing machine before, figured it out on his own.

"I'd never sewn before, and I've newer sewn since," he chuckles.

He presented his efforts to the class. His teacher, however, was not as impressed. "It's got too many stars," he pointed out, giving the project a B-minus. When Heft protested, the teacher challenged him: "If you don't like the grade, get the flag accepted in Washington and I'll consider changing it."

Heft did just that. He took the flag to his congressman, U.S. Rep. Walter Moeller, and asked him, "If there's ever a contest for a new flag, would you submit this for me?"

Sure enough, Heft's political instincts proved true. Alaska was admitted as the nation's 49th state in 1959, and Hawaii as the 50th soon after. On July 4, 1960, Heft found himself in Washington, D.C. standing next to President Dwight Eisenhower, watching his flag raised for the first time over the U.S. Capitol building.

When he returned home with his flag, he sought out his former teacher, who gladly bumped up the grade to an "A."

Heft, 65, and his original flag have since traveled the world, sharing a message of patriotism. In fact, his original prototype has flown over all 50 state capitols, 1,231 American embassies, hundreds of historical sites, and the White House of every administration since Eisenhower. The flag is valued at more than $500,000.

Over the last 47 years, Heft estimates he's made close to 9,000 appearances with his original 50-star flag.

To kids, he urges them to follow their dreams and never give up in what they believe in.

During his career, Heft was a teacher for 23 years, including a stint at his high school alma mater, teaching a number of courses including history, and government. He served as a seven-term mayor of Napoleon, Ohio, from 1976 to 1988. Now retired and living in Saginaw, Mich., he makes approximately 250 appearances each year, often speaking for free and asking organizations to only cover his travel expenses. He estimates that he is on the road 150 days a year, sometimes speaking to four or five schools in a single day.

"If you believe in what you are doing, don't let anyone discourage you from your dreams," says Heft.