Gilbert Lea

Gilbert Lea (December 16, 1912 – May 4, 2008) was an American football player, World War II army veteran, advertising executive, and publishing company owner.^[1] Born in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, Lea grew up in Wynnewood and attended the Montgomery School before enrolling at St. Paul's School, from which he graduated in 1932 after receiving the Gordon Medal for leadership and character.^[1] He then attended Princeton University, graduating with the Class of 1936, where he started as an end on the football team for four years and earned All-American honors in 1935 on the undefeated squad.^[1]^[2] Following his undergraduate years, Lea began a career in media and advertising, working at Time magazine from 1936 to 1948, then as executive vice president of the eastern market division at Business Week, and in advertising roles at McGraw-Hill, as director for McCall's magazine, and as vice president at Ogilvy & Mather handling the Sears Roebuck account.^[1] He later served as the first marketing executive at Casco Bank and purchased Tower Publishing Company in 1967, owning and operating it until his retirement in 1982.^[1]^[3] During World War II, Lea served in the U.S. Army, initially as an artillery instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and with the 13th Armored Division in California and Texas before deploying to the European Theater as a lieutenant colonel and battalion commander in the 3rd Army.^[1] He received the Air Medal for commanding an assault from a cub airplane, along with battle stars and a Bronze Star.^[1]^[3] Lea was deeply involved in Princeton alumni affairs throughout his life, serving as chairman of Annual Giving, chairman of the athletic committee, a member of the Alumni Council, and past president of the Class of 1936 as well as alumni associations in Maine and Florida.^[3] He also contributed to community causes, including leadership roles at the American Cancer Society, trusteeship at the Baxter School for the Deaf, and efforts in public approval for the Lincoln Center.^[1] Lea married Nancy Nalle in 1938 (later divorced and remarried as Nancy Genung) and Phyllis Thaxter in 1962, with whom he was married until his death; he had two children from his first marriage, Ann Lea Fries and Thomas Nalle Lea, as well as a son Gilbert Lea Jr. who predeceased him, and two stepchildren, Skye Aubrey and James Aubrey.^[1]^[3] A resident of Vero Beach, Florida, at the time of his death, Lea enjoyed bicycling, music, sailing, skiing, tennis, golf, and supported cancer research.^[3]

Early life and education

Family and upbringing

Gilbert Lea was born on December 16, 1912, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.^[1] He was the youngest child of Langdon "Biffy" Lea, a renowned Princeton University football player and coach who served as the Tigers' head coach in 1899 and 1901, and Lavella Belknap Lyons Lea.^[4]^[5] The family resided in a home in nearby Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where Lea spent his early years in an affluent environment that reflected the prosperity of Philadelphia's Main Line communities.^[1] Lea's upbringing was shaped by his father's athletic legacy, which included three consensus All-America selections as a halfback at Princeton in the 1890s and a pioneering role in early college football coaching.^[5] This familial emphasis on sports provided Lea with early exposure to athletics, fostering his own lifelong interest in the field amid the privileges of suburban life, including access to recreational opportunities typical of the era's elite families.^[5] He had three older siblings: brothers Francis Cabeen Lea and Langdon Lea Jr., a member of Princeton's class of 1932, and sister Mary Norwood Lea, who later became Mary Lea Page.^[6]^[4]^[7]

Secondary education

Gilbert Lea began his formal education at the Montgomery School in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, where he completed his elementary studies.^[1] He then enrolled at St. Paul's School, an elite Episcopal preparatory boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire, graduating in 1932.^[1] There, Lea distinguished himself academically and athletically, earning the prestigious Gordon Medal, the school's highest honor for a male student demonstrating exceptional all-around achievement in both scholarship and athletics.^[1] During his time at St. Paul's, Lea captained the football team, where he honed his early skills in the sport, building on his family's strong athletic tradition.^[4] The team achieved notable successes in interscholastic competition, providing Lea with foundational experience in teamwork and leadership on the field.^[4]

College years at Princeton

Football career

Gilbert Lea played as an end for the Princeton Tigers football team from 1932 to 1935, contributing on both offense and defense during an era when players typically participated on both sides of the ball.^[1] As a freshman in 1932, he began his varsity career, starting regularly over the next three seasons. As a sophomore in 1933, he helped lead the Tigers to an undefeated 9–0 season under head coach Fritz Crisler, culminating in national championship recognition after outscoring opponents 217–8 and shutting out seven of nine foes.^[8] Lea's defensive prowess was evident in key moments, such as blocking a punt that set up a score in a 20–0 victory over Columbia.^[9] In 1934, Lea earned honorable mention All-America honors while anchoring the Tigers' line alongside teammate Hugh MacMillan, forming one of Princeton's most effective end tandems.^[9] The following year, as a senior, he received consensus second-team All-America recognition from multiple selectors, including the Associated Press and New York Sun, for his ability to catch long passes on the run from quarterback Ken Sandbach.^[9] Princeton again finished undefeated at 9–0 in 1935, ranked No. 1 nationally in major polls, and claimed another national championship with a dominant 256–32 scoring margin over opponents.^[8] Lea's statistical contributions, though not exhaustively documented in era records, included reliable receptions that advanced Princeton's single-wing offense, with his smashing tackles and daring plays bolstering the team's elite defense.^[9] His efforts during these two perfect seasons solidified Princeton's place among the era's elite programs and extended the family's storied football legacy, following his father Langdon "Biffy" Lea's All-America career at the university.^[1] Post-college accounts often highlighted Lea's role in these championship runs as emblematic of Princeton's disciplined, innovative style under Crisler, contributing to the Tigers' 28 total undefeated seasons in program history.^[8]

Academic and extracurricular activities

During his undergraduate years at Princeton University, Gilbert Lea pursued a liberal arts education, culminating in his graduation with an A.B. degree in the Class of 1936.^[1] His academic experience reflected the university's emphasis on broad intellectual development, though specific coursework or concentrations are not detailed in available records. Lea was actively involved in campus life beyond the classroom, notably as a member of the University Cottage Club, one of Princeton's prestigious upperclass eating clubs to which he was elected during his sophomore year in 1934.^[10]^[11] These clubs served as central hubs for social interaction and networking in Princeton's selective environment, where Lea, coming from a prominent family with deep university ties, forged lasting friendships among peers from elite backgrounds.^[12] In addition to social engagements, Lea demonstrated early leadership in university affairs. As he approached graduation, Lea began exploring opportunities in advertising and media, aligning with the career paths common among his classmates and setting the stage for his post-college endeavors.^[1]

Military service

World War II training

Following his graduation from Princeton University in 1936, Gilbert Lea enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1942 as a lieutenant, shortly after the United States entered World War II.^[13] His prior experience as a college athlete at Princeton, where he excelled in football and other sports, contributed to his physical readiness for military demands.^[3] Lea was assigned as an artillery instructor at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he served for two years, training new recruits in field artillery techniques and operations essential for armored warfare.^[1]^[11] During this period, he progressed through the ranks, demonstrating leadership in instructional roles that prepared artillery units for combat deployment.^[13] In 1944, Lea contributed to the formation and preparation of the 13th Armored Division, focusing on maneuvers that integrated artillery support with armored advances in California and Texas.^[13] By the end of his stateside service, Lea had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel, reflecting his effective management of these pre-deployment activities.^[13]

European theater and decorations

Lea deployed to the European Theater in 1944 as a battalion commander of the 274th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, an armored artillery unit attached to the Third Army under General George S. Patton.^[1]^[11] His unit provided critical fire support during key campaigns, including advances through northern France, the penetration of the Siegfried Line, the Ardennes counteroffensive in the Battle of the Bulge, and operations in central Europe, culminating in Bavaria as the war ended.^[14] For participation in these major battles, Lea earned multiple battle stars as part of his unit's campaign credits.^[1] Lea's command responsibilities involved directing artillery assaults from forward positions, including aerial observations. He was awarded the Air Medal specifically for valor in commanding an assault from a cub observation airplane during combat operations.^[3]^[1] Additionally, he received the Bronze Star for his overall leadership and bravery in directing fire support that contributed to the Third Army's rapid advances across Europe.^[1] Lea was demobilized in 1945 with the rank of lieutenant colonel, having led his battalion through 19 major engagements without sustaining major unit losses.^[1]^[14] His wartime service exemplified effective artillery leadership under Patton's aggressive tactics, emphasizing mobility and precise coordination in armored warfare.^[11]

Professional career

Early roles in publishing and media

Upon graduating from Princeton University in 1936, Gilbert Lea joined Time magazine, where he worked from 1936 to 1948 in advertising sales, with his tenure interrupted by military service during World War II.^[1] His role involved promoting the publication to advertisers and building key relationships in the media landscape during a period of rapid growth for weekly news magazines.^[3] Following his demobilization in 1946, Lea transitioned to Business Week, a McGraw-Hill publication, serving as executive vice president in charge of the Eastern Market for four years starting around 1948.^[1] In this position, he oversaw advertising operations and market expansion in the northeastern United States, leveraging his prior experience to drive revenue growth amid postwar economic recovery.^[11] Following his role at Business Week, Lea served as advertising director for McCall's magazine until 1957.^[1] This role focused on securing major advertisers for the women's lifestyle publication, emphasizing strategic sales pitches and media planning to enhance circulation and ad revenue.^[11] During this formative period in publishing and media, Lea honed skills in marketing, advertising sales, and operational management, drawing on leadership principles from his military service to navigate competitive industry dynamics.^[3]

Advertising, banking, and publishing ownership

In 1957, Gilbert Lea joined the advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather as vice president, a position he held until 1969, where he focused on new business development and ultimately managed the high-profile Sears Roebuck account.^[1]^[11] During his tenure, Lea played a key role in securing public support for major initiatives, including the construction of Lincoln Center in New York, leveraging his expertise in strategic advertising campaigns.^[11] In 1962, Lea joined Casco Bank and Trust Company in Portland, Maine, becoming the first marketing executive under president Halsey Smith.^[1] By 1966, he had been promoted to vice president of marketing, where he applied his advertising background to enhance the bank's outreach and customer engagement strategies in a competitive regional market.^[15] In 1967, Lea acquired the Tower Publishing Company in Portland, Maine, which he owned and operated until 1982, overseeing its expansion into a key local publisher of directories and business resources.^[1] Under his leadership, the company grew steadily, serving the Maine business community before he sold it upon retirement in 1982, marking the culmination of his entrepreneurial phase in publishing.^[11] Lea's progression through executive roles in advertising, banking, and publishing ownership demonstrated his versatility in applying media and marketing principles to drive business development across industries.^[1]

Later life and legacy

Family, residences, and avocations

Gilbert Lea married Nancy Nalle in 1938, and the couple had three children: Gilbert Lea Jr., who predeceased his father; daughter Ann Lea Fries; and son Thomas Nalle Lea.^[1]^[3] The marriage ended in divorce around 1961.^[3] In 1962, Lea married Phyllis Thaxter, a union that lasted 46 years until his death in 2008; Thaxter brought stepchildren Skye Aubrey and James Aubrey to the family.^[1]^[16] At the time of his passing, Lea was also survived by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.^[16] Lea resided in Princeton, New Jersey, from 1936 to 1961 during his first marriage and early career.^[1] Later, he and Thaxter built a home in Cumberland Foreside, Maine, near Falmouth, where they lived for many years.^[1]^[16] The couple maintained a winter home in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for 16 years and relocated to Vero Beach, Florida, in the early 1980s, where Lea spent his final decades.^[1]^[16] In retirement, Lea's avocations encompassed a range of active and creative pursuits, including painting, tennis, sailing, golf, bicycling, skiing, and music appreciation.^[1]^[3] He also maintained a personal interest in supporting cancer research.^[3]

Community involvement and alumni contributions

Following his retirement, Gilbert Lea remained deeply engaged in Princeton University alumni affairs, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to his alma mater. He served as chairman of the Annual Giving campaign from 1961 to 1962, oversaw the Athletic Committee as its chairman, and was a dedicated member of the Alumni Council for nearly two decades.^[3]^[11] Lea also held leadership positions as class president for the Princeton Class of 1936 and as president of the Princeton alumni associations in both Maine and Vero Beach, Florida, fostering connections among graduates in those regions.^[3]^[16] Lea's community involvement extended beyond alumni networks to broader civic and philanthropic efforts, particularly in Maine where he maintained a residence. He also served on the executive committee of the National Football Foundation.^[16] He led the American Cancer Society's chapter in the state, advancing cancer awareness and support initiatives, and served as a trustee of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, contributing to educational opportunities for deaf students.^[1]^[16] Additionally, Lea was an active parishioner at St. Mary’s Church in Falmouth, Maine, and a longtime member of the Portland Country Club, where he participated in local social and recreational activities.^[1]^[11] Lea passed away on May 4, 2008, at the VNA/Hospice House in Vero Beach at the age of 95, leaving a lasting impact on educational, health, and alumni institutions.^[16]^[11]