William Gordon Obituary

Bill was born in Colorado Springs on May 24, 1931 to William G. and Martha Gertrude (Bretz) Gordon. He attended Columbia Elementary, North Junior High and Colorado Springs High School (now Palmer) graduating with the class of 1949. He played on the 1948 CSHS State Championship football team and competed in State Wrestling Tournaments.

Bill attended the University of Denver on a football scholarship and played four years on the D.U. Pioneers football team. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa honorary society and served as student body president. He graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree and served two years in the U.S. Army. Bill started his teaching and coaching career at Harrison High School. The following year, he went to Colorado Springs High School where he taught history and coached football, wrestling, and track. When Mitchell High School opened in 1965, he transferred as head wrestling coach, line football coach and Athletic Director, along with teaching history and geography. He later gave up teaching and coaching when he became Business Manager at Mitchell, along with directing athletics. He served as Secretary of the South Central League for a number of years and was also on the Board of Control of the Colorado High School Activities Association.



Bill retired in 1990 after 35 years in School District 11 and was honored by the creation of the "Bill Gordon Wall Of Fame" in the Mitchell Gymnasium, featuring Mitchell High School championship banners.



He married his college sweetheart, Joan Sispela, December 28, 1954 at First Presbyterian Church. They were blessed with three children Craig (Belinda) Gordon, Seattle WA; Susan (Gary) Weyers, Granby, CO; Jennifer (Jason) Gonzales, Colorado Springs, CO.



Bill was a loving Papa to six grandchildren: Ryan (Liz) Gordon, Kendall (Andrew) Johnson, Taylor Gordon, Chandler Gordon, and Sam and Devon Gonzales. He also had four great-grandchildren: Knox Gordon, and Ryder, Grady and Hayes Johnson.



Bill is survived by his twin sister Gladys Gordon Prunty (Bill) in Bozeman, MT. and was predeceased by his parents and infant son, Mark Douglas Gordon, born October 30, 1966.



Throughout his life, Bill was an avid fly fisherman and loved the Colorado mountains. He also loved to travel, share his passion for US history, and enjoy the beauty of our country with his family by travelling to 49 of the 50 states.



Bill was a 73 year member of First Presbyterian Church. His Memorial Service will be held there Friday, September 23rd at 1:00 pm. The church is located at 219 E Bijou.



In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Pikes Peak Hospice.