Mr. Heartt worked for James B. Duke in his New York office in 1923 and assisted Mr. Duke with the establishment of The Duke Endowment. He was elected a Trustee of the Endowment on January 30, 1951, and retired on December 31, 1975. At that time, he had the unique record of saying “present” at 249 out of 250 of its regularly scheduled meetings – his only absence was due to an Endowment meeting date change which conflicted with another obligation. He traveled from New York to the Carolinas by rail, and then by air. Upon his retirement, Mr. Kenneth Towe, Trustee of The Duke Endowment, said: “We have been warmed by your friendship; enriched by your wisdom; and saddened by your retirement.”