In Memorium of Kadir Has

Kadir Has was born in Kayseri in 1921 as the son of Nuri and Zekiye Hasoğlu. He graduated from Boğaziçi High School in 1942. In the same year, he married Rezan Has, the daughter of Mehmet and Şehime Germirli, one of Kayseri’s prominent families. His father, Nuri Hasoğlu, through his tireless hard work, determination, and fortitude, established numerous factories and commercial enterprises in Adana starting from scratch, becoming one of the country’s wealthiest individuals and among the founders of Akbank. After his marriage, Kadir Has entered the business world; thanks to his entrepreneurial mindset, industriousness, and perseverance—alongside the wealth and traits inherited from his family—he quickly became one of Adana’s leading businessmen in a career that began with truck and tractor marketing and primarily focused on the automotive trade.

Settling in Istanbul in 1960, Kadir Has operated in various fields, particularly the automotive industry; due to his honesty, determination, and reliable character, he became one of the few wealthy and prominent business figures there as well. He participated in the establishment of the Mercedes Bus and Truck Factory, where he served as Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors for many years. He founded the first Coca-Cola factory in Turkey and was among the partners of the Peugeot minibus factory named “Karsan” in Bursa, alongside the Koç family. Furthermore, he undertook the Turkish distributorship of Michelin tires and engaged in various commercial ventures. Kadir Has became one of the largest founding shareholders of Akbank after the Sabancı Family. Through his resolute management in all the commercial enterprises he founded and developed, he achieved great success, continued his work without falling into any disputes, and emerged from every endeavor with honor.

Due to his significant contributions to education and training, and his efforts to ensure future generations are raised under the best conditions, he was awarded various honorary titles. By the decision of the Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Senate dated April 16, 1998, he was granted an Honorary Doctorate Degree in the field of Educational Administration, Planning, and Economics within the Department of Educational Sciences of the Faculty of Education on June 1, 1998. Additionally, by the decision of the Marmara University Senate dated July 8, 1997, he was honored with an Honorary Doctorate Degree on June 30, 1998, for his material and moral contributions to the Atatürk Faculty of Education.

Kadir Has and Rezan Has engaged in significant philanthropic activities for the development of the country, primarily in education and health, through the “Kadir Has Foundation for Turkish Education (HASVAK)” which they established in 1991. Furthermore, in accordance with their wills, they donated their entire fortune to this foundation. In other words, they believed that giving back what they earned from the country to the country was the greatest honor and a debt of loyalty. Seeing the commencement of education and the development of Kadir Has University, which bears his name, was one of Kadir Has’s greatest passions.