John Irvin "Jack" Heise, Jr.

John Irvin "Jack" Heise, Jr. (pronounced HI-zee; December 13, 1924 – October 5, 2009) was an important benefactor of the University of Maryland. His dedication to Terrapins sports earned him the nickname "Mr. Maryland".

Early life Heise was born on December 13, 1924, in Baltimore, Maryland, and attended Baltimore City College. He was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, which later honored him with its Significant Sig Award.

Heise graduated from Maryland in 1947, and then attended law school at the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1950. He often attended games with columnist Robert Novak, another avid Maryland sports fan. The Baltimore Sun wrote, "In an era in which other schools' boosters often become best known for trying to unseat struggling coaches, Mr. Heise was relentlessly positive." In 2007, the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame inducted him for meritorious service.