Henry B. & Jessie W. Keiser

Foil: 43 Panel: 2 Column: 1 Line: 4

Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Benefactor

Honored by:
Henry B & Jessie W Keiser Foundation Inc

Henry Bruce Keiser (1927-1992), lawyer, publisher and business leader. In addition to practicing law in Washington, D.C., Mr. Keiser was Chairman of the Board and President of Keiser Enterprises Inc.; Chairman of Lion Worldwide (London, England); Chairman of Empire Carriages (London, England); Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Arkhon Corporation (Cherry Hill, New Jersey); Chairman of the Board of U.S. Telemarketing Inc. (Atlanta, Georgia); and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Philadelphia Institute Inc. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania).

Mr. Keiser was born in New York City on October 26, 1927. He graduated with honors from the University of Michigan in 1947 and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1950. He was admitted to the Bars of New York, District of Columbia, Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Tax Court, and the U.S. Court of Claims.

Jessie Weeks Keiser was born August 6, 1927 in Warren, New Hampshire. In 1945, she graduated from Orford High School in Orford, New Hampshire and then attended Hiram College in Hiram, Ohio for two years. In July of 1953, she married Henry Bruce Keiser and together they settled in Washington, D.C. in 1955.

After serving as Head Counsel to the Alcoholic Beverage Section of the Office of Price Stabilization and as legal assistant to Judge Eugene Black of the U.S. Tax Court, Mr. Keiser, along with his wife Jessie, founded Federal Publications, Inc. in 1959. It became the preeminent legal service relating to all aspects of Government Procurement. They developed a series of international
seminars on which noted procurement lawyers and high ranking officials came together to pioneer the emerging field of public contract law. They published numerous newsletters, textbooks and other compilations which set the standards for the profession. In 1985, the Keisers sold Federal Publications to Longman Group PLC of the United Kingdom. They then established Keiser Enterprises, Inc.

Mr. And Mrs. Keiser were members of the Cosmos Club, National Press Club, Army-Navy Club, Harvard Club, and of Crockford's Club in London. Mr. Keiser held the hereditary title of Lord of Tuxford, Nottingham, England. He was a major in the USAF Reserve and served as an advisor on Construction Contract Document Reform to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Touro College in New York. In 1987, he received a "Governor's Citation" from the Governor of the State of Maryland and a "Proclamation of Commendation" from Montgomery County, Maryland.

In 1998, Mrs. Keiser established the Henry B. and Jessie W. Keiser Foundation, Inc. to promote, among other things, scientific and educational purposes. The Foundation believes that the programs and exhibits of the National Air and Space Museum provide excellent education in aviation and space exploration National Air and Space Museum provide excellent education in aviation and space exploration.