Lehigh University Athletics
Where are they now? Peter Bennett '63
10/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
 |
Peter Bennett graduated from Lehigh in 1963 with a degree in management. Bennett enjoyed his role as the starting shortstop for the baseball team. Bennett recalls, “In those days, the baseball team wasn’t as good as it is today. But we all still had a great deal of fun and enjoyed ourselves.”
“And we only played about fifteen games a season,” Bennett laughs. “Now, they play about 15 a month.”
Bennett enlisted to the Vietnam War after graduation and served for two years. The experience to serve the United States became a moment that all veterans can share.
After the war, Bennett took classes at Columbia University; eventually earning his M.B.A. Bennett used his management degree to snag a job working for Merrill Lynch & Co beginning in 1971. Bennett served several different positions during his time including mergers and acquisitions, Manager of Private Financing, Senior Vice President of Interfunding Inc., and Managing Director of Merrill Lynch Capital Markets. Bennett worked at Merrill Lynch & Co. for 21 years before moving on in 1992.
“I loved working for Merrill Lynch,” Bennett says. “It was a good experience where I learned a lot about the business world and helped bring success to the company.”
In 1992, Bennett started his own company, Liberty Partners. Today, Liberty Partners handles over $1 billion dollars in assets. Bennett currently resides on the Board of Directors after working many years as the CEO of Liberty Partners. The board meets five times a year to evaluate the company’s current state and future direction.
“The best thing is being able to be in control of your own time and your life,” Bennett says.
Baseball has remained a fixture in Bennett’s life since his playing days at Lehigh. One of his best experiences outside the business world was enjoying a game at the newly opened Yankee Stadium.
“The stadium allows you to order food and a drink while still watching the game,” Bennett says. “The old stadium forced you to miss some of the game from standing in line. The new stadium is open and it’s just a great atmosphere.”
Bennett doesn’t have one specific memorable playing moment at Lehigh but takes in the entire athletic experience.
“No, I wouldn’t say there’s one thing that jumps out at me,” Bennett says. “I just remember all the times with the group of guys. Being on a team pulling for the same goal was one of the best parts about being on the team. There’s nothing like it.”
Bennett keeps in touch with many of his former teammates. In particular, Bennett especially enjoys talking to former teammate’s first baseman Fred Braun, second baseman Walt King, pitcher and outfielder Ed Winchester, outfielder Bob Gifford, and first baseman George Means.
Lessons learned during his time at Lehigh and playing baseball helped Bennett for life after graduation.
“Being on a team forces you to work with different types of people all pulling for the same goal,” Bennett says. “Even in the business world, it’s not always about knowledge but about building and maintaining relationships with people. Being at Lehigh and on the baseball team helped in that way.”
Bennett’s advice to current Lehigh athletes is to continue improving the baseball facilities and keep building the program.
Bennett, who currently sits on the Lehigh Board of Trustees, enjoys spending time with his wife Jean Nevins and two daughters Lynn Bennett Yolevich and Lehigh graduate Brooke Bennett Marazza ‘93.
Story written by Reggie Hall '09
