George W. Strawbridge Jr.

George W. Strawbridge Jr. (born October 10, 1937) is an American educator, historian, investor, sportsman and philanthropist.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was the son of Margaret ("Peggy") Dorrance and the stockbroker George W. Strawbridge Sr. He is a great grandson of William Weightman through his grandmother Louisa Weightman Strawbridge, who was Weightman's daughter and wife of John Strawbridge. He studied at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He furthered his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in Latin American history and politics, earning a master's degree and his doctorate. For a time, Strawbridge was an adjunct professor at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he remains a member of its board of trustees.

Campbell Soup Company

George Strawbridge Jr.'s mother was the daughter of Dr. John Thompson Dorrance, owner of the Campbell Soup Company. On her father's death, she inherited a significant interest in the company. George Strawbridge Jr. was a member of the board of directors of the Campbell Soup Company from 1988 to 2009,

Tampa Bay Rowdies and indoor soccer advocacy

Strawbridge was the co-owner, then majority owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer franchise of the old North American Soccer League from the team's founding in July 1974[2] until he and later partners Lamar Hunt and Bill McNutt sold the club after the 1983 season to investors Stella Thayer, Bob Blanchard and Dick & Cornelia Corbett.[3] The team would win the NASL Soccer Bowl championship for him in their first season and finish as runners-up in both 1978 and 1979. His teams also had great success in the league's indoor circuit, thrice winning titles (1976, 1979-80 and 1983) and twice runners-up (1975 and 1981–82).

It was his long-held belief that the best way to grow the sport's fan appeal, as well as develop young American talent was through the fast-paced, higher-scoring indoor game, rather than overspending on foreign talent.[4][5] He repeatedly lobbied the other owners to consider playing a full indoor regular season instead of just the two-tiered tournaments of 1975 and 1976. As early as a 1975 owners meeting, he brought in public relations experts to show his peers what indoor's full potential was.[6] Indeed, in 1976, 1977[7] and 1978 other owners were poised to follow his lead, only to have various obstacles pull the plug on "his" winter season.[8][9][10] Undaunted, Strawbridge and a few other owners pressed on, using indoor friendlies as part of their training and build up to the outdoor season.[11] In the meantime the rival Major Indoor Soccer League set up shop in 1977 and began play in 1978.[12] Just as Strawbridge predicted, the MISL games drew thousands of new fans and young American talent almost from the start. Now fearing that they were missing an opportunity, enough owners acquiesced and in November 1979 the first full NASL indoor season finally commenced.[13][14] By season's end on March 2, 1980 it was only fitting that NASL indoor soccer's original champion, George Strawbridge, would see his Rowdies crowned as champions of the league's first full indoor season.[15][16]

Augustin Stable

Strawbridge acquired acreage in the Brandywine Valley in southeastern Pennsylvania and established Augustin Stable as his breeding and racing operation for both steeplechase and flat racing. Now divorced, he makes his home in Cochranville near his Derry Meeting Farm. Active in the National Steeplechase Association (NSA), Strawbridge has served as its president, chairman and chairman emeritus and is a member of the board of directors of the National Steeplechase Museum in Camden, South Carolina.[19] The all-time leading money-winning steeplechase owner in the United States, in 1979 the NSA honored him with their F. Ambrose Clark Award given to someone "who has done the most to promote, improve and encourage the growth of steeplechasing in America". In 2010 Augustin Stable received the Keeneland Mark of Distinction for their contribution to Keeneland and the Thoroughbred industry.[20]

Since 1976, Strawbridge has been a member of The Jockey Club and along with Ogden Mills Phipps, is one of only two Americans to be members of the Jockey Club of Canada. Strawbridge also sits on the board of trustees of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. He is also a former owner of Tybridge Farm in Chesapeake City, Maryland.

His Thoroughbreds compete in flat racing across North America and in Europe. He bred many of the horses that he raced. His notable runners includes:

Steeplechase racing

Cafe Prince (b. 1970) – United States Champion Steeplechaser (1977, 1978). Inducted in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1985.

Flat racing

Waya (b. 1974) – 1979 Eclipse Award as the American Champion Older Female Horse
Treizieme (b. 1981) – In France, won G1 Grand Critérium
Silver Fling (b. 1985) – won G1 Prix de l'Abbaye
Turgeon (b. 1986) – named for Buffalo Sabres player Pierre Turgeon. Raced in Europe where he won Group One races in France and Ireland.
Tikkanen (b. 1991) – named for NHL hockey player, Esa Tikkanen. Wins included the 1994 Turf Classic and Breeders' Cup Turf.

office1	Owner of the Buffalo Sabres
alongside1	Seymour H. Knox III, Northrup Knox, & Robert O. Swados
term start1	1970
term end1	1998
predecessor1	Position established
successor1	John Rigas
office2	Owner of the Tampa Bay Rowdies
alongside2	Beau Rogers, IV
term start2	1974
term end2	1983
predecessor2	Position established
successor2	Stella Thayer, Bob Blanchard & Dick Corbett
birth date	October 10, 1937
birth place	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
education	Trinity College, University of Pennsylvania
occupation	Educator, historian, investor, sportsman
party	Republican
spouse	Nina Gill Stewart (divorced)
children	3

George W. Strawbridge Jr.

Biography

Campbell Soup Company

Tampa Bay Rowdies and indoor soccer advocacy

Investments

Buffalo Sabres

Augustin Stable

Steeplechase racing

Flat racing

Philanthropy

External links

References

As a breeder