Heber Jentzsch

Infobox Celebrity
name = Heber Carl Jentzsch
bgcolour = #f0de31


imagesize = 200px
caption = Heber C. Jentzsch
birth_date = birth date and age|1935|7|11
birth_place = United States
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = President, Church of Scientology International
salary = USD$Unknown
networth = USD$Unknown
spouse = "Yvonne Gillham"
"Karen Barter"
children = 1
website = [http://www.scientology.org/scnnews/jentzsch.htm Scientology Bio]
footnotes =

Heber Carl Jentzsch (born 1935) has served as president of the Church of Scientology International since 1982.

Biography

Heber Jentzsch grew up in a Mormon family, and identified himself as a "believing Mormon". [cite episode | title = Inside the Church of Scientology | series = Larry King Live | serieslink = Larry King Live | airdate = 1993-12-20] He is the son of polygamist Carl Jentzsch (who was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and Carl's third wife Pauline; Heber has 42 siblings. ["Scientologists march on courthouse", UPI 20.5.1985] While Heber Jentzsch was never baptized into the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his first name was inspired by the Latter-day Saint apostle Heber C. Kimball.

Jentzsch was educated at Weber State University in Utah and the University of Utah, where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in communications "UTAH-BORN SCIENTOLOGY PRESIDENT SAYS THE RELIGION SAVED HIS LIFE", "The Salt Lake Tribune", 9.12.1992] . Jentzsch biography in John Naisbitt, "High Tech High Touch: Technology and Our Accelerated Search for Meaning", p. 253. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2004.]

According to Jentzsch, two events of his life were pivotal: the arrest of his father in 1955, and himself being "cured" in the Scientology Purification Rundown from "radiation burns" he had suffered from since he was 15. He joined Scientology in 1967.

The Internet Movie Database lists Jentzsch with one credited acting appearance, a small part playing a Nazi in one episode of the 1960s television series "Combat!", and with an uncredited role in the movie "1776".

Role

During the 1970s, Jentzsch became the public relations director of the Church's later-notorious Guardian's Office, serving as the Church's chief press spokesman. [Omar V. Garrison, "Playing Dirty", p. 142. Ralston-Pilot, 1980. ISBN 0-931116-04-X] He has continued in this role since his promotion to the post of President of the Church of Scientology International; in January 1986 it fell to him to inform the press of the death of L. Ron Hubbard. [Jon Atack, "A Piece of Blue Sky", p. 354. Lyle Stuart, 1990. ISBN 0-8184-0499-X] He has often appeared in newspaper interviews, aggressively defending the church on several occasions. [cite web|url=http://www.xenutv.com/us/geraldo-heber.htm|title=Jentzsch appears on talk show Geraldo in 1991] [cite web|url=http://www.scientomogy.info/sound/heber.mp3 |title=Jentzsch appears on KFI radio Los Angeles] [cite web|url=http://www.whyaretheydead.net/Sten/www.users.wineasy.se/www.users.wineasy.se/noname/multimed/60min85.ram |title=Jentzsch appears on 60 minutes]

While David Miscavige is regarded as the actual leader [ [http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart1.html The man behind Scientology: David Miscavige, the seldom-seen leader of the church, comes forth in his first newspaper interview to talk of a more peaceful time for Scientology] , St. Petersburg Times, 25. October 1998] of Scientology and has the rank of "Captain" in the Sea Org, Jentzsch has the rank of "Lieutenant" [ [http://www.xenu.net/archive/go/osahist.htm The Office of Special Affairs (1983 to present)] ] and is considered to be a titular [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951938-6,00.html Mystery of the Vanished Ruler] , TIME, January 31, 1983] president.

Arrest and trial in Spain

In 1988 Heber Jentzsch was arrested in Spain along with 69 other members of the organization. [Citation | last = UPI | title = 51 Scientology leaders charged | newspaper = The Ottawa Citizen | pages = A13 | year = 1988 | date = 1988-11-22] [cite web | first = Stephen | last = Koff | title = Judge orders Scientology leader jailed | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51428680.html?FMT=FT&dids=51428680:51428680&FMTS=ABS:FT | work = | publisher = St. Petersburg Times | date = 1988-11-24 | accessdate = 2007-12-24 ] Jentzch was incarcerated in a Spanish jail for about three weeks. [ [http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/01/16/71535/index.htm FOLLOW-UPS: SHAMED IN SPAIN] , Fortune, January 16, 1989] He was released and returned to the United States after Scientology paid a bail bond of approximately $1 million. Sixteen people, including Jentzsch, were charged with "illegal association" and various other crimes including tax fraud and endangering public health. The trial of the indictees began in February 2001, but Jentzsch himself did not turn up; the prosecution called for him to be given a 56-year prison sentence. ["15 Scientologists on Trial", "The New York Times", February 8, 2001.] However, the Madrid Provincial Court threw out all but the conspiracy charge and eventually ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove this charge as well. ["Spanish Court Acquits Scientologists", Associated Press, December 3, 2001] In April 2002, the charge was formally dropped. The court also ordered that the bail bond deposited for his release in 1988 be returned to the Church along with interest, which nearly doubled the original amount. ["Spanish court drops charges against Scientology chief after 14 years", Agence France Presse, April 11, 2002]

Family

Jentzsch was first married to Yvonne Gillham, [ [http://www.lermanet.com/cos/newhana.html Affidavit of Hana Whitfield] ] [ [http://members.chello.nl/mgormez/fun/sw7.txt Heber Jentzsch OT Success Story] , Advance! magazine, issue 38, p. 14] who was also the founder of the Scientology Celebrity Centre. After her death from cancer, he married Karen Barter, and later divorced. [ [http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/Declaration/marybig.txt Affidavit of Mary Tabayoyon] ] The couple have one son, Alexander. [ [http://www.scientology-lies.com/stacyyoung3.html Affidavit of Stacy Brooks Young] ]

ources

External links

*
* [http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/biographies/jentzsch.html Official Biography]