The Founder

Gyula "Julius" Rezler was born in Miskolc, Hungary, on May 31, 1911 and celebrated his 90th birthday in Albuquerque at a party attended by many friends. He died unexpectedly on October 29, 2001 in Budapest. Dr. Rezler's academic credentials were truly impressive, he held two Ph.D.'s from the universities of Pecs and Szeged in Hungary, authored numerous publications, was one of the first sociologists in Hungary and one of the leading labor arbitration experts in the United States.

Dr. Rezler left Hungary in 1948, literally "a few steps ahead of the Hungarian KGB." After time in refugee camps, Dr. Rezler went to the US and became a citizen in 1957. He subsequently achieved a distinguished career as a Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute of Industrial Relations at Loyola University of Chicago. Julius and his wife, Agnes moved to Albuquerque in 1988, where he pursued an active career as an arbitrator with the National Academy of Arbitration, and mediator with the New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution. In 1998, Dr. Rezler was inducted into the prestigious Hungarian National Academy of Sciences because of his significant contributions to the Hungarian academia. In May 2001, he received an award as an Outstanding Peacemaker from the NM Center for Dispute Resolution. After his beloved wife's death he decided to return to Hungary where he spent a couple of active months lecturing at different universities in Budapest and being with his family.