Industrialist, philanthropist and Republican party contributor. Born in Kleinhobing, Germany, he emigrated to the US in 1963 as an exchange student. After a period of working odd jobs, he began to develop a system to customize American-made cars with sunroofs, popular in European models, founding the American Sunroof Company (ASC). Before long, his company was fielding offers from the Big Three American automakers and his fortunes took off. He became a US citizen in 1972 and married his German-born wife in 1977. With ASC the centerpiece of his fortune, he owned hotels and newspapers in the Detroit area, along with car dealerships, banks, restaurants, and cattle ranches. He was a well-known fundraiser for the Republican Party, serving as Chairman of the Presidential Export Council under President George H.W. Bush and co-chairing the finance committee for Bush's unsuccessful re-election campaign in 1992. He stepped down as CEO of ASC in 1995 but would remain chairman until his death. He would be instrumental in fundraising for the Republican Governors' Association that would help elect George W. Bush to the presidency in 2000. As a humanitarian, he gave millions to charities and helped develop a clinic at the University of Michigan for fighting depression. After his suicide, his widow dedicated her life to finding a cure for manic depression. Cause of death - suicide after years of courageously fighting severe manic depression.
Industrialist, philanthropist and Republican party contributor. Born in Kleinhobing, Germany, he emigrated to the US in 1963 as an exchange student. After a period of working odd jobs, he began to develop a system to customize American-made cars with sunroofs, popular in European models, founding the American Sunroof Company (ASC). Before long, his company was fielding offers from the Big Three American automakers and his fortunes took off. He became a US citizen in 1972 and married his German-born wife in 1977. With ASC the centerpiece of his fortune, he owned hotels and newspapers in the Detroit area, along with car dealerships, banks, restaurants, and cattle ranches. He was a well-known fundraiser for the Republican Party, serving as Chairman of the Presidential Export Council under President George H.W. Bush and co-chairing the finance committee for Bush's unsuccessful re-election campaign in 1992. He stepped down as CEO of ASC in 1995 but would remain chairman until his death. He would be instrumental in fundraising for the Republican Governors' Association that would help elect George W. Bush to the presidency in 2000. As a humanitarian, he gave millions to charities and helped develop a clinic at the University of Michigan for fighting depression. After his suicide, his widow dedicated her life to finding a cure for manic depression. Cause of death - suicide after years of courageously fighting severe manic depression.
