Harry Heltzer

LENOIR - Harry Heltzer, 94, of Lenoir passed away at home on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Aug. 22, 1911, to the late Edward and Anna G. Heltzer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Louis Heltzer. Mr. Heltzer is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Kent Heltzer; a son, James R. Heltzer, and wife Marilyn of Bemidji, Minn.; a daughter, Mrs. Maryhelen Hauge, and husband Donald of Maple Grove, Minn.; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Mr. Heltzer is a graduate of North High School and the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. He is a former president of the University Alumni Association and served as chairman, University of Minnesota Research Foundation, as a trustee of the University Foundation, and was awarded the University of Minnesota Outstanding Achievement Award. The Harry Heltzer/3M Chair has been established in the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota in his honor by 3M. Mr. Heltzer is former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the 3M Co. in St. Paul, Minn., where his career spanned 43 years. He was awarded six patents for inventions of reflective highway products. In October 2004 he was named one of the Top 100 Transportation Professionals of the 20th Century for his contributions to highway safety. He has served as chairman of the International Road Federation, chairman of the Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility, chairman of the Automotive Safety Foundation and director of the National Safety Council. He was appointed by President Lyndon Johnson as a member of the National Highway Safety Advisory Committee. He was a former member of the board of directors of General Motors Corp., the First Bank System, First Trust Co., First National Bank of St. Paul, Data 100 Corp., and Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co. Upon retiring from 3M and moving to North Carolina in 1976, Mr. Heltzer became involved in both civic and business activities. He served on the board of directors of Caldwell Memorial Hospital, the Foundation of Caldwell Community College, board of trustees and the Development Board of Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, and the Business Advisory Committee, Appalachian State University, Boone. He formerly served as a board member of Northwestern Bank, Lenoir, the Broyhill Management Fund, Bernhardt Industries and Bernhardt Furniture Co. Mr. Heltzer is a member of First Baptist Church. A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at First Baptist Church of Lenoir, with Dr. David Smith and the Rev. Fred Barnes officiating. The family will receive in the church fellowship hall after the service. A private internment will be held at Blue Ridge Memorial Park in Lenoir. Memorials may be made to The Heltzer Honors Program, Appalachian State University, Box 32073, Boone, NC 28608, or Heltzer Scholarship, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Foundation, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55905. Greer-McElveen Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.