Leslie Thrasher

Leslie Thrasher was born West Virginia. Studied art PAFA; Paris; with Howard Pyle. Sold first cover to The Saturday Evening Post in 1912 for $50. Enlisted for World War I; in camouflage unit of the 40th Engineers with fellow Pyle student Douglas Duer; injured by poison gas at Belleau Wood. Upon return to career, quickly re-entered elite level of illustrators. In 1926, accepted exclusive contract at Liberty as cover artist, producing 360 before leaving in 1932. Died in 1936 from smoke-induced pneumonia after fire in Long Island summer home.