The NEW glory - the story behind
the 50 star flag
by Bob Heft - Its Designer
Back in 1958, while a 17 year old high
school junior at Lancaster High School in Lancaster, Ohio,
Bob Heft,
turned an American history class project into a history
making event, when he designed America's current
national flag of 50 stars.
Heft, a quiet and unassuming student, but a real history
buff, theorized that with President Eisenhower and the
U. S. Senate being Republican, he questioned why they
would want to take in the very Democratic Alaska.
He played a hunch that another state would also be
added prior to the upcoming 1960 election to ensure
a political balance in the nation.
Heft, who had never sewn before often watched his
mother sew on the foot operated Singer sewing
machine. Interestingly, after sewing his version of the
new flag, Heft has never sewn again.
Heft spent about 121/2 hours cutting out 100 stars
(50 for each side) and assembling the flag to meet
a teachers imposed deadline for the project.
Mr. Stanley Pratt, his teacher, initially awarded the
youthful student the grade of B-, along with a
challenge to get it accepted in Washington, and he
would consider raising the grade.
On July 4th, 1960, after taking his flag to his
congressman with instructions to carry it to
Washington, Heft was in Washington to see his flag
raised over the United States Capitol as the Nations
newest national banner.
Heft returned to Lancaster, with his flag in hand,
along with the documentation making his flag the
nations newest banner.
After confronting his teacher, Mr. Pratt, reluctantly
raised his grade to an A.
Heft, now 67 years old, has become one of
America's most sought after motivational speakers,
having spoken in all 50 states and 57 foreign
countries.
He carries a simple message to students as
follows:
"If you don't believe in yourself
why should others believe in you" ?
and
"If you want to turn your dreams into reality
you must take the steps to make it happen "
On July 4, 2007, Heft saw his flag become
America's longest serving flag (as it surpassed
the 47 years that the 48 star flag represented our
country).
On July 4, 2010, the 50 star flag will celebrate its
50th anniversary of serving our great and grateful
nation.
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Bob Heft
P. O. Box 20404
Saginaw, MI 48602-0404
e-mail: usflagbobheft@yahoo.com
