THE TOM LEA INSTITUTE
Founded by long-time client Adair Margo, the Tom Lea Institute is an organization dedicated to enlivening the legacy of El Paso’s native son. Tom Lea was a true renaissance man—a painter, illustrator, writer of novels and histories, and a WWII war correspondent for LIFE Magazine.
I met Tom Lea on several occasions and it gives me great pleasure to be entrusted with the design of a variety of print materials that represent his legacy to El Paso, our region and our country as a whole.
Tom Lea Month 2015 – various media
Cover of the 2015 Tom Lea Month publication. Showcasing Lea’s famous portrait of his wife, Sarah.
Spread 2015 Tom Lea Month publication
Spread from the 2015 Tom Lea Month publication
Spread from the 2015 Tom Lea Month publication
Full page ad design for Texas Monthly — 2015 Tom Lea Month Jud Burgess
Billboard design — 2015 Tom Lea Month
Billboard design — 2015 Tom Lea Month
Tom Lea Month 2014
Cover of the 2014 Tom Lea Month publication. Showcasing a detail of Lea’s legendary mural Longhorn. Jud Burgess
Spread from the 2014 Tom Lea Month publication
Spread from the 2014 Tom Lea Month publication
Spread from the 2014 Tom Lea Month publication
Tom Lea Month 2013
Cover of the 2013 Tom Lea Month publication. Focusing on a detail of Lea’s Pass of the North mural. Jud Burgess
Spread from the 2013 Tom Lea Month publication
Full page ad design for Texas Monthly — 2013 Tom Lea Month
Tom Lea Month 2012
Cover of the 2012 Tom Lea Month publication. Focusing on a detail of Lea’s Pass of the North mural.
Spread from the 2012 Tom Lea Month publication
Spread from the 2012 Tom Lea Month publication
Half page ad design for Texas Monthly — 2012 Tom Lea Month
Tom Lea Month 2012 Keynote Speakers invitation
Invitation cover for the Tom Lea Month Keynote speakers presentation. I came upon the idea to use their yearbook pictures for the cover after having learned they both graduated from El Paso high schools in 1977. I wrote a line that played off of the years being great and the fact they also were both Generals in the Army. This cover sets up the inside of the invitation.
The inside panels reveal both Generals Pittard and Brown in uniform in current portraits. A distinctly patriotic and military feel to this invitation, but not without it’s humor.
Tom Lea Month 2012 Art of War Conference invitation
This is the cover of the invitation. Note that the cover flap reveals the title portion of the invitation. It is seen both when you look at the invitation folded and open.
The inside of the invitation.
Tom Lea Month 2011 Laura Bush Keynote invitation
Invitation cover for a presentation by former First Lady Laura Bush during Tom Lea Month 2011
Laura Bush’s smile hasn’t changed since she was a child as you’ll note in the next image. Had the pleasure of meeting her several years back during a tour Adair Margo gave her of a stone-washing maquila I had done some interior work for. I had no idea how I should address her when we met...and when we were introduced, she shook my hand and called me Jud, so naturally I called her Laura. Such a disarming woman!
Invitation interior for a Laura Bush presentation. Tom Lea Month 2011