The L. Henry Gissel, Jr. Spirit of ACTEC Lecture was established in 2023 to honor and recognize the importance of L. Henry Gissel, Jr. (1936–2020), who served as ACTEC President (1995–1996) and ACTEC Foundation President (2017–2020). Henry was active in the College for 47 years and had a significant impact on ACTEC, The Foundation, and all Fellows who had the privilege to know him.
Past ACTEC Foundation President Jeffrey C. Thede stated, “In March 2020, I was honored to follow in the very large footsteps of Immediate Past President L. Henry Gissel, Jr. My goal is to continue the excellent work Henry has done to expand the knowledge of The ACTEC Foundation among Fellows of the College, as well as the wider community of persons who look to the Foundation for information to help them with their family’s estate planning needs and professional development. Henry’s devotion to the Foundation’s good work was unparalleled, and I, along with all members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, miss him deeply.”
The lecture series occurs bi-annually during the ACTEC Annual Meeting.