Otis Guernsey

Otis Guernsey (June 16, 1893 – March 4, 1975) was an American businessman and college football player who was the president of Abercrombie & Fitch and a fullback for the Yale Bulldogs football team.[1]

This article is about the footballer. For his son the writer, see Otis Guernsey Jr.
Otis Guernsey
Yale Bulldogs
PositionFullback
Personal information
Born:(1893-06-16)June 16, 1893
Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.
Died:March 4, 1975(1975-03-04) (aged 81)
Edgartown, Massachusetts, U.S.
Career history
CollegeYale (1913–1915)

Early life

Guernsey was born on June 16, 1893 in Des Moines, Iowa to Nathaniel T. Guernsey and Martha (Love) Guernsey.[2] Nathaniel T. Guernsey was a vice president and general counsel for the American Telephone and Telegraph Company.[3] Guernsey's younger brother, Nathaniel T. Guernsey Jr., also played football at Yale and set the record for the men's 60-foot plunge in 1923 as a member of the school's swim team.[4][5]

Athletics

Football

Guernsey originally replaced Dave Dunn at Yale, who was injured.[1] Guernsey was called the "star halfback" of Yale football's 1913, 1914 and 1915 teams also was their field goal kicker.[6][7][8][9] Guernsey set a Yale record for the longest field goal kicked at 53 years during an October 13, 1915 game against Princeton.[10] Guernsey was called the "hero" of the 1915 Yale-Princeton game, kicking two field goals from the 55-yard line and the 42-yard mark which helped Yale win 13-7.[11] Guernsey missed time during the 1915 season due to sickness and later dislocated his shoulder during a November 20, 1915 game against Harvard.[12][13][14][15]

Guernsey was often compared to and called a rival of Harvard's Charles Brickley, who also served as the team's kicker.[16][17]

Squash

Guernsey took up squash after he graduated from Yale, competing in the Squash National Class B Championship.[18] Guernsey later competed in the National Squash Tennis Association's 1922 Fall Squash Tournament, losing to Charles M. Bull Jr.[19] Guernsey then later helped the Yale Squash Team win the Champions Class League in 1922-23.[20]

Military service

Guernsey was a major in the 315th Field Artillery during World War I.[2] He was also a member of the New York Guard and held the rank of brigadier general during World War II.[21]

Business career

Guernsey worked for the General Chemical Company from 1919 to 1922 and the J. L. Mott Iron Works from 1922 to 1924. He then joined Abercrombie & Fitch, where he was promoted to assistant vice president in 1927.[2] In 1928, Ezra Fitch sold his stake in the company to his brother-in-law, James S. Cobb. Cobb became the company's new president and Guernsey succeeded him as vice president. During the Great Depression, Guernsey negotiated with the firm's creditors, which helped save the company from collapse.[22][23] Guernsey was president of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1940 until 1961, when he was elected to the new position of chairman.[24]

Personal life

Guernsey married Margaret C. Henderson in 1916.[25] They had three sons, one of whom, Otis Guernsey Jr. (1918-2001), became a well-known writer.[21] The Guernseys divorced and she married Yale professor Lemist Esler in 1956.[26] Guernsey died on March 4, 1975 at his home in Edgartown, Massachusetts.[21]

References
  1. "Guernsey to Play Full Back", The New York Times, 1913, retrieved 13 March 2023
  2. Who's Who in Commerce and Industry. New York: A.N. Marquis & Company. 1955. p. 437.
  3. "Mrs. N. T. Guernsey". The New York Times. April 28, 1943.
  4. "Nathaniel T. Guernsey Jr". The New York Times. December 19, 1929.
  5. (17 February 1927). Howell of Chicago A.A. Sets New World's Mark In Plunge, The New York Times
  6. Brickley Defeats Yale In Stadium, Hartford Courant, 1913, retrieved 13 March 2023
  7. Yale Prospects Rosy For Two Big Games, Hartford Courant, 1914, retrieved 13 March 2023
  8. Otis Guernsey Back on Yale's Football Team, The Salt-Lake Herald Republican, 1915, retrieved 13 March 2023
  9. Guernsey, Otis (1915), Better Physical Form Gives Tad Jones' Team Slight Edge, New-York Tribune, retrieved 13 March 2023
  10. Baker, Sean (2004), One of the great pieces of sports architecture turns 90 next week., CT Insider, retrieved 13 March 2023
  11. Otis Guerney, Hero of Yale-Princeton game, Asbury Park Press, 1915, retrieved 13 March 2023
  12. His Pinch Kicking May Save Yale, Austin American-Statesman, 1915, retrieved 13 March 2023
  13. "Three Yale Men Injured: Guernsey's Loss a Heavy Blow to New Haven Supporters", New York Times, 1915, retrieved 13 March 2023
  14. "How Harvard Smothered Shevlinized Yale Team", The Baltimore Sun, 1915, retrieved 13 March 2023
  15. Finished Eleven Not Able To Stand Before Eli's Determination, The Salt Lake Herald-Republican, 1915, retrieved 13 March 2023
  16. Remarks, Knoxville Standard, 1913, retrieved 13 March 2023
  17. Guernsey Rival to Brickley, The Butte Miner, 1913, retrieved 13 March 2023
  18. Otis Guernsey Is Winner At Squash, The Parsons Weekly Eclipse, 1917, retrieved 13 March 2023
  19. Crescent Squash Stars Feature In Yale Tourney, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1922, retrieved 13 March 2023
  20. Yale Squash Team, Champions Class League 1922-23, Hartford Courant, 1923, retrieved 13 March 2023
  21. "Otis Guernsey, Led Abercrombie, Fitch". The New York Times. March 6, 1975.
  22. Grant, Tina, ed. (1996). International Directory of Company Histories. St. James Press. p. 7.
  23. "Abercrombie & Fitch Co". Funding Universe. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
  24. "Abercrombie & Fitch Names Top Executive". The New York Times. February 1, 1961.
  25. Football Star Wins Bride, The Parsons Weekly Eclipse, 1916, retrieved 13 March 2023
  26. "Mrs. Guernsey Rewed". The New York Times. November 9, 1956.
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