Henry J. Kaiser: Western Colossus

Albert P. Heiner

Feb 2024 · Plunkett Lake Press

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Henry John Kaiser (1882-1967) was an American industrialist known for his shipbuilding and construction projects, and for fostering modern American health care. Prior to World War II, Kaiser’s company was one of those that built the Hoover and Grand Coulee dams. He established the Kaiser Shipyards, which built Liberty ships during World War II, after which he formed Kaiser Aluminum and Kaiser Steel. Kaiser organized Kaiser Permanente health care for his workers and their families. He led the automobile companies Kaiser-Frazer and Kaiser Motors. Kaiser invested in real estate, later moving into television broadcasting. He established the Kaiser Family Foundation, a charitable organization.

“Albert Heiner has written a captivating story of one of the strongest personalities ever to dominate the American scene and he has done it with skill. Henry J. Kaiser was quite as Heiner depicts him and as I knew him — an incredible business genius and fascinating personality.” — Norman Vincent Peale

“Through a good portion of Henry J. Kaiser’s career, Al Heiner was there — as a public relations officer for Kaiser Steel, but also as an eye-witness to many of the events that make this biography such lively reading. He then supplemented these firsthand experiences with extensive research in the massive Kaiser Archives now on deposit at the Bancroft Library at Berkeley. This biography teems with vivid, frequently tumultuous anecdotes, each of them set- pieces of skilled narrative.” — Kevin Starr, Author and Historian

“In the fifties, the moment I saw the pilot for the television show ‘The Maverick’ I said, ‘that’s Mr. Kaiser.’ I flew out to Hawaii and met with him, and when he saw the picture he flipped, because he saw himself as James Garner... The Maverick. In my opinion he was one of the great showmen of our day and he had fantastic foresight as to how to sell the Kaiser company. I agree with your appraisal of him as one of the great American pioneers.” — Leonard H. Goldenson, Retired Chairman, American Broadcasting Company

“Henry J’s extraordinary life, his relish for work and the results of his dreams are fondly described with a particular warmth that could only be captured by an author who witnessed much of the saga.” — Gene Trefethen, Retired President, Kaiser Industries Corporation

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Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Albert Purnell Heiner (1915-2002) earned the Eagle Scout Award as a youngster, won the State Tennis Championship at age 16 and served as Student Body President of West High School. He graduated from the University of Utah where he served as Student Body President and earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Heiner spent 30 years with Kaiser Steel Corporation, the last 18 as Vice President, before retiring from his chosen field of Traffic and Transportation. Based on his experience, he wrote a biography of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. During his career he served as President of the American Society of Traffic and Transportation, the Transportation Club of San Francisco and the National Freight and Transportation Club. He served on the University of Utah National Advisory Council and the Harvard Business School Association of Northern California. He also served as President of the Oakland Symphony Association, the Junior Achievement of the East Bay and the University of Utah Alumni of Northern California.

Heiner was Executive Producer of “The Great American Cowboy” that won the 1974 Academy Award for Best Feature Length Documentary. He co-founded the League to Save Lake Tahoe and co-created their well-known logo, “Keep Tahoe Blue”. He water skied on the lake into his seventies.