Obituary: Richard W. Heiss

Richard W. Heiss, president emeritus of Michigan State University College of Law/Detroit College of Law, died Jan. 23.

A 1963 graduate of Detroit College of Law, Heiss was elected to the Board of Trustees in 1972. He served as president of DCL from 1983 to 1994 and was instrumental in the DCL-MSU affiliation.

“I am personally very grateful for Dick’s warmth and lifelong commitment to our law school,” said Dean Joan Howarth. “He had recently been working with President Emeritus Richard Suhrheinrich on a book about the history of the Detroit College of Law.”

Heiss earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1952 and completed the Stanford Executive Program in 1979. He served five years in the U.S. Army, including three years in Germany.

After his military services, he joined the Manufacturers National Bank in 1957 as assistant trust officer and remained until he retired in 1992.

In addition to his service to DCL, Heiss was president of the American Bankers Trust Division from 1980-1981, a charter member of ABA Private Banking Committee, and lectured at various banking schools during his career. He also served as president of Detroit Golf Club in 1983, and was on the Michigan Seniors Golf Association Board from 1994-2012.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, two sons, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and two brothers.

A funeral service was held Jan. 31 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Farmington Hills with a private burial at Northside Cemetery in Maybee.

Memorial gifts are suggested to the Heiss Enrichment Endowment A90204 at Michigan State University, College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Dean’s Office, 404 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824; or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 2800 New Market Road, Farmington, MI?48334.