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| Born in Munich, Germany in 1938 to a family long established in that
city, Mr. Hetzler attended a private prep school, graduated from business
college in 1956 and immigrated to the United States the following year. Only
seven months later, he was drafted into the United States Army, received his
basic training in Texas and served as an interpreter in Germany, reaching the
rank of Sergeant. He became an American citizen in 1965. From 1961 to 1984 Mr. Hetzler owned, and successfully operated, bakeries in Queens and Long Island, New York. In 1974 he purchased a food store that he expanded into a chain of food stores. The sale of these stores made it possible for him to retire and devote his time to the arts, the Masonic Fraternity and to the German-American community. Currently he owns an art gallery in Soho, New York City and operates the Bill Hetzler Holding Corp. In addition, he manages his real estate investments and is President of the William Hetzler Consulting Company. Mr. Hetzler is very involved in numerous fraternal and community organizations. His goal is to further and improve the interests of Americans of German heritage. Since 1977 he has been a member of the International Order of Freemasonry and has held several offices. He served as Master of Schiller Lodge, Masonic Fraternity; served as President of the Past Masters Association of the Ninth Masonic District; is an honorary member of the Masonic lodge "Zur Kette" in Munich, Germany; is a member of the Board of Governors, Tenement Museum of the City of New York; is active in the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Germany and USA; was appointed to the President’s Council in Washington, DC during the Bush administration; is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council in the State of New York; serves as President of the United German-American Committee USA; is Vice President of the German-American Cultural Council; is a member of the Board of Directors, Plattduetsche Home Society, Franklin Square, NY; is a member of the German-American Council of 1000, USA; serves as advisor to the German Consulate in New York City; is Chairman of the German-American Advisory Council in Nassau County; is a member of the Nassau County Council for Criminal Justice; a board member of the German Night Committee, Council of Seven. Mr. Hetzler has been hailed in numerous American and German publications as a "builder of bridges between the United States and Germany." Since 1970, Mr. Hetzler has been actively involved with the organization of the German-American Steuben Parade, providing strong leadership while holding various positions, including Chairman of the very important fundraising committees, and served as Vice Chairman for four years. Presently, he is in his seventh year as General Chairman. During his chairmanship, he implemented several initiatives, among them: changing the name to the German-American Steuben Parade and introducing the Future Fund in 1990 to insure receipts of contributions that are needed to support the Parade into the next century. Long a collector and a patron of the arts, Mr. Hetzler opened a gallery in New York City in 1984 to provide an opportunity for many German artists to exhibit their art and establish a name for themselves in the United States. Mr. William Hetzler and his wife Jacqueline reside for more than 20 years in Atlantic Beach Estates, a suburb of New York City. They have three children: Jesse, Olivia and Andrew. |
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