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Former Executive Committee Member Gordon Dies At 87
By David Shefter, USGA
Gordon helped secure the "moon club," the 6-iron used by astronaut Alan Shepard in 1971. (USGA Photo Archives)
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Far Hills, N.J. -- Finding a new home for the USGA's headquarters and assisting with the acquisition of the "moon club" are just two lasting legacies of Ken Gordon's tenure on the Executive Committee.
The 87-year-old former USGA Executive Committee member died on Feb. 5 in Sea Island, Ga. Gordon spent nearly 20 years of his life serving the boards of the Metropolitan Golf Association and the USGA. From 1968-75, he served on the USGA's Exeutive Committee, including two years as secretary (1974-75). During that time, he chaired the Museum Committee and helped lay the groundwork for the Association's move from New York City to Far Hills. He also served on the Rules of Golf Committee.
Gordon was a member of Montclair (N.J.) Golf Club where one of his fellow members was the famous golf course architect, Robert Trent Jones Sr. In the early 1970s, the USGA's Executive Committee had discussed moving from Manhattan and Jones had heard about some property in Far Hills that was coming up on the market.
The USGA, through the work of Gordon and others on the Executive Committee, purchased the property from David Potter. The Museum at Golf House opened its doors in the summer of 1972.
"He's really the man who was responsible for bringing Golf House to New Jersey," said Janet Seagle, the late USGA Museum Curator, in her oral history. "He was also the man to finally get some funds for the Museum."
Gordon's daughter, Pam, said chairing the Museum Committee, was one of her father's favorite roles as a member of the Executive Committee.
One of the Museum's first big acquisitions was the "moon club," the 6-iron used by astronaut Alan Shepard in 1971. Gordon arranged for the donation through Bing Crosby, who was a close friend of the admiral.
Gordon also arranged to have a special room in the Museum dedicated to Bob Jones and he worked with members of the Executive Committee to initiate the concept of the Associate Members program, which still exists today. Gordon went to the Oval Office when President Gerald Ford became the first USGA Member.
Prior to joining the Executive Committee, Gordon served on the board of the Metropolitan Golf Association and was that organization's president from 1970-71. He served as the president of Montclair Country Club from 1963-66 and was an eight-time club champion. He also was a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (Muirfield) in Scotland.
Gordon was born in Great Crosby, Lancashire, England in 1916 and was educated at the Uppingham School in England. He served in the British Army during World War II with the rank of Major before emigrating to the United States in 1948. He was a director of the Okonite Company in Passaic, N.J.
Gordon retired to Sea Island in 1977. He is survived by his wife, Judy Jones Gordon; three children, Suzanne Gordon of Charleston, S.C.; Pamela Gordon of Marlborough, Mass.; and Kenneth J. Gordon of Stamford, Conn.; two stepchildren, Michael Jay Banker of Boston and Douglas Kipp Banker of Charlotte, N.C., and five grandchildren.
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