Robert G. “Bob” Heft (January 19, 1941 – December 12, 2009), born in Saginaw, Michigan, was the designer of the current American 50-star flag
The Saginaw News has a nice feature on Saginaw resident Bob Heft, designer of the 50 star American flag. Heft was the creator of the longest-serving flag in US history and passed away Saturday at the age of 67:
Heft was 17 in 1958 when he received an unusual phone call from an important individual. When the caller asked for Robert G. Heft, the teenager said, “Yes, but you can call me Bob.” He didn’t realize he was speaking with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Heft’s high school project had been selected by the president to represent the United States of America and the 50-star U.S. flag was born.
Winford said Heft would “beam with pride” because of his work and was a constant inspiration for children. He said he taught them how to follow their dreams.
Heft visited the White House 14 times under nine presidents and toured with Bob Hope.
“He was such an amazing guy, what an amazing person he was,” he said. “I am certain that when God asked if he was speaking to Robert G. Heft, Bob replied with a smile, ‘Yes, but you can call me Bob.’ ”
You can get a little more about Heft from Wikipedia and at usflag.org, where they relate that his design receieved a B- because it lacked orginality. He did say that he would give Heft a high grade if he could get Congress to accept the design.
Source : “Remembering Bob Heft, designer of the 50 star flag”, Michigan in Pictures, December 15, 2009