Howard Covode Heinz succeeded his father as president of the Heinz Company in 1919 and led the firm during a period of global expansion and modernization. A strong advocate for humanitarian aid, he played a pivotal role in relief efforts following World War I and during the Great Depression. His leadership was marked by an emphasis on innovation, public health, and corporate philanthropy, extending the ethical foundations laid by his father.
Background
Ethnicity:
Howard Heinz was of German descent on both sides of his family. His paternal grandfather, John Henry Heinz, emigrated from Bavaria, and his maternal lineage traced to German immigrants who had settled in Pennsylvania. The Heinz family preserved many elements of German-American cultural identity, particularly in ethics, religion, and industry.
Born into one of Pittsburgh’s most prominent industrial families, Howard was raised in an environment steeped in civic duty, Christian morality, and business discipline. His father, H. J. Heinz, was already a national figure in food manufacturing by the time of Howard’s birth. The younger Heinz benefited from a privileged education, surrounded by cultural and philanthropic influences that emphasized both intellectual rigor and moral leadership. The family’s Lutheran roots and German heritage shaped Howard’s worldview, instilling in him a sense of responsibility to workers, customers, and society at large.
Education
Howard Heinz was educated in Pittsburgh’s finest preparatory institutions before attending Yale University, one of the most prestigious Ivy League schools of the era. At Yale, he pursued studies in economics, political science, and business administration—fields that were rapidly gaining prominence during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.
During his time at Yale (1896–1900), he was likely influenced by the reformist spirit then shaping American higher education. Yale’s curriculum encouraged leadership, moral reflection, and public service, aligning with the Heinz family values. He participated in debating societies and civic clubs that promoted responsible citizenship and ethical capitalism. He was also likely exposed to early discussions around labor rights, urban planning, and food safety regulation—issues that would define his later business career.
Upon graduation, he entered the family business, bringing both modern business theory and a strong ethical framework to a company already known for its integrity.
Career
Following his graduation from Yale University in 1900, Howard C. Heinz returned to Pittsburgh to join the H. J. Heinz Company. Under the mentorship of his father, he quickly advanced through the company’s leadership ranks, gaining experience in production, distribution, and marketing. After H. J. Heinz’s death in 1919, Howard became the company’s second president, ushering in a new era of modernization and international growth.
He guided the company through the economic volatility of the 1920s and the global disruptions of the Great Depression. During his tenure, Heinz expanded its global operations, investing in food laboratories, modernized production facilities, and strategic brand positioning. He maintained his father's high standards in food safety and transparency while introducing efficiencies drawn from emerging industrial sciences.
A defining chapter of his career was his leadership in humanitarian relief. In the aftermath of World War I, he served as the director of the United States Food Administration’s Pittsburgh office, working under Herbert Hoover. Later, as head of the Heinz War Relief Committee, he coordinated large-scale shipments of food and medical supplies to devastated regions in Europe.
He also spearheaded domestic relief projects during the Great Depression, donating canned food to schools and community kitchens and supporting nutritional education campaigns. His philanthropic activities extended to hospitals, universities, and churches in Pennsylvania, and he was instrumental in establishing the Howard Heinz Endowment, one of the earliest philanthropic foundations in the U.S.
By the time of his death in 1941, Howard Heinz had evolved from an industrial heir into a symbol of ethical business leadership and compassionate civic service.
Achievements
• Expanded Heinz into a global brand during the interwar period, overseeing the opening of factories and offices in Europe, South America, and Asia.
• Directed relief efforts during and after World War I, ensuring food security and nutritional aid for war-torn communities.
• Founded the Howard Heinz Endowment, one of the nation’s early large-scale philanthropic foundations, focused on education, public health, and the arts.
• Advanced corporate ethics and worker welfare in the industrial sector, continuing his father’s progressive legacy by upholding fair wages, sanitary conditions, and health benefits at Heinz facilities.
• Promoted public health campaigns, including school lunch programs and nutrition education during the Depression.
• Preserved family legacy by maintaining transparency, quality, and moral accountability in the branding and practices of the H. J. Heinz Company.
Religion
Heinz remained closely affiliated with the Lutheran tradition of his upbringing. He upheld the Christian values of service, honesty, and community responsibility. Like his father, he viewed enterprise as a moral vocation and often integrated biblical principles into business practices and philanthropic strategies.
He contributed to church-based social programs and was a proponent of ecumenical cooperation in education, healthcare, and urban charity work. His philanthropic decisions reflected Protestant ideals of stewardship, humility, and neighborly responsibility.
Politics
Howard Heinz’s political outlook reflected the socially conscious capitalism of early 20th-century moderate Republicans. A supporter of Herbert Hoover’s food administration programs, he viewed government and business as collaborative forces for public good. He supported anti-monopoly protections, international cooperation, and business-driven relief initiatives.
His leadership in war and depression-era relief efforts placed him within the tradition of philanthropic capitalism—favoring voluntary service and private-sector solutions to public crises. While not publicly political, his actions aligned with progressive conservatism: a belief in moral obligation, fiscal responsibility, and global stewardship.
Views
Howard Heinz believed in the synthesis of business leadership and civic responsibility. He viewed industrial success not as an end in itself, but as a means to uplift public life. His worldview was internationalist and humanitarian: he considered the private sector to be a global actor with obligations in peacebuilding, nutrition, and public welfare.
He believed that ethical capitalism required transparency, public service, and environmental care. While shaped by Christian ideals, his outlook was pragmatic and policy-aware. He sought to align his business operations with emerging social sciences, public health knowledge, and industrial best practices.
Quotations:
1. “We are not merchants of food only; we are stewards of health.”
— Often quoted by colleagues to summarize his approach to business and social responsibility.
2. “The work of a company is not only what it produces but whom it uplifts.”
— Paraphrased in internal Heinz publications and used in speeches commemorating his relief work.
3. “Our strength lies not in our size, but in our service.”
— Featured in the 1930 Heinz annual report, emphasizing his belief in corporate mission beyond profit.
Membership
Howard Heinz was a member and officer in numerous civic, educational, and humanitarian organizations. His affiliations were active and leadership-focused, reflecting his role as a civic architect in Pittsburgh and a proponent of socially engaged business practice.
He served on advisory councils for public health and education and was known to contribute anonymously to many charitable and academic institutions. His endowment would later become one of Pittsburgh’s most influential philanthropic forces.
Board of Trustees, University of Pittsburgh
,
United States
Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
,
United States
Heinz War Relief Committee
,
United States
Corporate member
American Public Health Association
,
United States
Supporter and collaborator
International Red Cross
Personality
Howard Heinz was known for his calm temperament, methodical decision-making, and strong moral grounding. Though reserved in public demeanor, he was highly regarded by business peers and community leaders for his reliability, modesty, and depth of commitment.
He was deeply private, avoiding personal publicity, yet carried considerable influence in philanthropic and educational policy. His communication style was formal and thoughtful, often written rather than spoken, and he favored behind-the-scenes leadership to public attention.
Physical Characteristics:
Heinz was tall and lean, typically dressed in conservative business suits, with neatly combed dark hair and a serious, scholarly expression. His appearance reflected the propriety expected of a second-generation industrial leader.
Quotes from others about the person
1. “If his father built the company, Howard gave it a conscience.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, obituary, 1941
2. “He spoke little but accomplished much.” — Trustee of the University of Pittsburgh
3. “He carried the burden of privilege with grace and turned it into public good.” — Statement from the Red Cross regional office
Interests
He enjoyed horticulture, particularly vegetable gardening and agricultural development. He supported the Pittsburgh Civic Garden Center and invested in early soil nutrition research. He also collected rare botanical texts and contributed to efforts in sustainable farming education.
Philosophers & Thinkers
Influenced by Protestant ethics, Howard Heinz admired thinkers like John Stuart Mill (for utilitarian ethics), William James (for pragmatism), and Max Weber (on the Protestant ethic and capitalism). He was also inspired by early public health reformers and international humanitarians such as Florence Nightingale.
Politicians
He expressed admiration for Herbert Hoover, particularly for his work in postwar relief, as well as Abraham Lincoln and Woodrow Wilson—leaders who combined moral vision with administrative capacity.
Writers
He likely read works by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Booker T. Washington, and Henry Adams, as well as economic and ethical treatises from Adam Smith to early 20th-century social reformers. His correspondence reveals an appreciation for classical literature and contemporary essays on education and philanthropy.
Artists
He showed a preference for 19th-century American and European realist painters, including Winslow Homer and Caspar David Friedrich , whose depictions of nature, labor, and moral solitude aligned with his own worldview.
Sport & Clubs
He participated in golf and rowing during his university years and was a lifelong member of civic clubs such as the Duquesne Club and the University Club of Pittsburgh. These affiliations reflected his preference for intellectually and civically oriented social spaces.
Music & Bands
Howard Heinz favored orchestral and choral music, particularly classical German composers such as Beethoven, Mendelssohn, and Brahms. He was a benefactor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and supported sacred music performances at local churches.
Connections
Howard Heinz married Elizabeth Granger, and together they had one child, Henry John Heinz II, who continued the family’s legacy in business and philanthropy. The Heinz family remained one of Pittsburgh’s most civically engaged dynasties throughout the 20th century.
Henry John Heinz was an American entrepreneur best known as the founder of the H.J. Heinz Company, one of the most iconic food processing firms in the world. His name became synonymous with innovation in food production, notably for his introduction of clear glass bottles, standardized recipes, and sanitary factory conditions.
President, H. J. Heinz Company
Director, Heinz War Relief Committee
Trustee, University of Pittsburgh
Chair, Pittsburgh War Relief Commission
Awards
Acknowledged for humanitarian contributions to postwar food relief and philanthropic giving in the 1920s and 1930s. While not formally decorated, his impact was commemorated through civic awards and dedications.
Acknowledged for humanitarian contributions to postwar food relief and philanthropic giving in the 1920s and 1930s. While not formally decorated, his impact was commemorated through civic awards and dedications.
