GEORGE EDWARDS GORDON
1933-2018
On July 25th the world lost a wonderful man. George Edwards Gordon was born August 6, 1933 to James Kennedy Gordon and Edna Irene Rich Gordon, in Coldspring, San Jacinto County, Texas and passed July 25, 2018. He leaves his beloved wife of almost 65 years, Shirley Marie Willemin Gordon; son Gregory Austin Gordon and wife Melissa Jo; daughter Dana Gail Bigham and husband Rob; grandchildren Juli Marie Gordon Miller and husband Justin; Jennifer Kay Gordon, Jonathan Edwards Gordon, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Bigham Buchanan and husband Brian; and Travis Robert Bigham; great grandsons Coyt Wayne Miller and Colden Austin Miller. Also his brother James Kennedy Gordon II and wife Betty; sisters Mary Frances Gordon Landrum and husband Leon, Marsha Paulette Gordon Batson and husband Vernon and numerous nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.
While attending Victoria College, George drove a school bus for VISD. He saw Shirley board another bus and asked the driver to find out “that girl’s name”. When he returned to the dormitory he told his roommate that he saw the girl that he was going to marry even though he did not yet know her name. They were married November 21, 1953. Both had to have their mothers sign their marriage license because neither were 21 years of age.
George began school at 5 years of age at Coldspring because his playmates were 6 years of age and in school. He had no one to play with so asked if he could go to school. Upon acceptance he started and went one week and decided to wait until next year. He liked to say that he was a first grade dropout that made good. He started the next year and the schools went to a 12 grade system. He was the only student to be promoted and skipped the 3rd grade. The family moved to Huntsville and he graduated High School at the age of 16. He was offered an appointment to West Point by Senator Tom Connally, (D) Texas, but declined. He planned to be a physician, but aptitude tests indicated that he should be an engineer because he was good at math, so he enrolled in college to pursue a mechanical engineering degree. He went to Victoria Junior College (now the Victoria College) on a basketball scholarship and earned an Associate of Arts degree, then to Lamar State College of Technology (now Lamar University) on a basketball scholarship. He was a junior in mechanical engineering when he took his first course in geology as an elective, and changed to a geology major, science being his first love. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Geology. He was offered a graduate teaching assistantship at the University of Texas to study under DR. H.B. Stenzel. Dr. Stenzel accepted the Geology chair at the University of Houston. George then accepted a teaching assistantship at UH and received a Master of Science degree in Geology with a minor in biology.
He went to work for The Atlantic Refining Company as a micropaleontologist and stratigrapher. While employed by Atlantic he served 90 days active duty in the U.S. Army with a Critical Industry classification and served 8 years in the Army Reserve before being honorably discharged. He worked two years with Skelly Oil Co. as an exploration geologist, then he joined Brazos Oil & Gas Division of The Dow Chemical Company. He worked 18 years with Dow and resigned as Southern Region Exploration Manager to form Gordon Exploration Co, Goliad Operating Co, and The Raisin Corporation. He was active in Oil & Gas exploration and production until his death.
George was a scientist as well as a rancher, both were his passion. He and Shirley enjoyed travel and have literally been “all over the world” with souvenirs and rock collections. They were members of Sugar Creek Country Club. George is a past member of Geological Society of America, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, and current Emeritus member of American Association of Petroleum Geologists, and Emeritus member of Houston Geological Society, and served on the Executive committee of the Board.
George’s love for geology never faded. Outside of travel and his family his passions laid with fossils, rocks, bones, or anything else very old that you could find in the ground. He was a master of micro paleonontology. In his spare time he enjoyed creating models and replica of fossils. He also enjoyed walking his two dogs Stella and Stuart.
The Visitation will be held at the Settegast-Kopf Co. at Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land , Texas on Friday, July 27th from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 28th at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Burial service which will take place at Coletoville Cemetery in Victoria, Texas at 3:00 p.m. with reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Victoria College Foundation, 2200 E. Red River, Victoria, Texas 77901.