Longstreth, W(illiam) Thacher 1920-2003
LONGSTRETH, W(illiam) Thacher 1920-2003
OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for CA sketch: Born November 4, 1920, in Haverford, PA; died of a pulmonary embolism April 11, 2003, in Florida. Businessman, politician, and author. Longstreth was a former Philadelphia councilman and mayoral candidate. Graduating from Princeton University in 1941, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1946 in the South Pacific theater and was awarded two bronze stars. Returning home, he embarked on a career in advertising, selling advertising for Life magazine until 1953, when he became vice president at the Geare-Marston Advertising Agency, followed by a similar stint at Aitkin-Kynett Advertising Agency, where he worked until 1964. Elected to the Greater Philadelphia City Council that year, he became president and chief executive officer and was reelected five times. Longstreth also ran for mayor of the city twice but was defeated both times. During his later years, he worked in various business posts, including as vice-chair of Winchell Co. and Packard Press. Longstreth will best be remembered in Philadelphia for his bow tie and wisecracking antics at city council meetings, about which he wrote in his memoir, Main Line WASP (1990).
OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:
BOOKS
Writers Directory, 13th edition, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1997.
PERIODICALS
Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2003, section 2, p. 11. New York Times, April 12, 2003, p. A20.