Gene William Heck
Gene William Heck was born in Fremont, Michigan on July 8, 1944 and passed away in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 21, 2010. Gene is survived by his wife Adrienne Vollmer Heck, with whom he shared 38 adventurous years, and their kitties, Maggie Mae and Scruffer Mree. He was preceded in death by his parents Stena and William Heck, and his sister, Linda. Gene grew up in Rothbury, Michigan where he attended Montague High School. Gene enlisted in the Army in 1965 and his career included graduating from Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California where he began a life long journey studying the Middle East. Upon graduating he received the General Maxwell Taylor Award as the outstanding student in his graduating class of 321 students covering 22 languages. Gene was a foreign area officer and served numerous tours including overseas assignments in Turkey, Ethiopia, and US Embassy in Amman, Jordan.
He was a brilliant scholar and earned a bachelors degree, three masters degrees as well as a PhD in Middle East Economics from University of Michigan. He also completed a masters in public policy from Golden Gate University. He was fluent in Arabic and Spanish and completed the coursework in Arabic for a masters in Medieval Middle East Economic History at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan. He was a prolific writer and is published in both English and Arabic. His book Charlemagne, Muhammad and the Arab Roots of Capitalism, was translated into Arabic as part of the Kalima project and honored as a major foreign work.
His love for the Middle East led to a 40-year career in Saudi Arabia beginning with an appointment in Government Relations at ARAMCO ( Arabian American Oil Company) in 1970. He has resided in Saudi Arabia both as a government representative and in private business since 1984. In Saudi assignments have included tours with US Treasury Department, Department of State, employment with local Saudi companies and various American Companies. He served as Chairman of American Businessman's Group (ABGR) and was Chairman Emeritus at the time of his death. He also served as a member of American Business Council of the Gulf Countries (ABCGC).
Over the years, Gene worked with Michigan Legislature and Governor John Engler both as staff economist and consultant. In this role, he authored several major economic studies and reports some of which received national awards and recognition.
Gene was an avid sports fan. He loved everything associated with the University of Michigan and was a devoted fan of Michigan football and basketball as well as the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and Pistons. He always said that he also supported Detroit football back when they had a team.
In addition to Adrienne, Gene is survived by his brother Edward Henry Heck and wife Joanne, and his nieces, Monica, Julie, Marstie, Lisa and Stephanie and their families, all of western Michigan. He is also survived by his in-laws including B.J. and Jack Vollmer, Cindy and David Clark and their children, Beth and Buddy, Charlie, Katie and Janie, and Radonna and John Vollmer and their children, Cody, Darren, Rachael and Jack, all of Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of Texas Capital Campaign, attn; Julie Siegel, 2400 Lone Star Dr., Dallas, Tx 75212