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, filling the vacancy left by his ailing father, who died in 1990. He served as a member of the company's audit committee and a member of the finance & corporate development committee. 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 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. 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).