Howard Heinz

Howard Heinz was born in 1877, the son of Henry J. Heinz, founder of the H. J. Heinz Company. After graduating from Yale University, he entered active service with the H. J. Heinz Company, where he successfully became advertising manager, sales manager, vice president, and president.

He was a director and/or trustee of the Pennsylvania Railroad, Mellon Bank, N.A., National Industrial Conference Board, Pittsburgh Regional Planning Association, Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Institute, Shady Side Academy, Western Pennsylvania Hospital, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Society.

One of Mr. Heinz's most notable accomplishments was his commitment to preserving and protecting undeveloped land in the Pittsburgh area for recreation and conservation. His love of the outdoors in his hometown prompted him to seek the help of other Pittsburgh industrialists and philanthropists, among them Richard Beatty Mellon. Together, they helped bring about the creation of the Greater Pittsburgh Parks Committee in 1932, which designated natural and undeveloped land in the city and region for use as public parks.

Gradually, the Greater Pittsburgh Parks Committee began acquiring land in and around the city for development into parks and natural lands. This organization would eventually become the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, which today is the leading land conservation organization in the region and one of the most successful in the United States.

Source: The Heinz Endowments (www.heinz.org)

Pioneers
Rachel Carson
Maurice K. Goddard
David L. Lawrence
Richard King Mellon
Gifford Pinchot