Married Margaret Brockman Jan. 7, 1951, Carlabad, Eddy County, NM. Margaret is the daughter of Henry F. Brockman and Lenore Calvani Brockman of Carlsbad, NM. Gordon children: Linda Gail Feb. 14 1952-June 3 1989, Karen Lee Dec.4 1954, Laura Jeanne Gordon July 19, 1958 (married Mike Daum).
Graduated Safford High AZ and attended Gila Jr. Collete, AZ prior to joining the Navy (1943-1946) and being sent to Notre Dame University. Ladd was Pharmacist's Mate 2nd Class in U.S. Navy World War II involved in flight research at Pensacola Naval Air Station. B.S.in Biology UNM 1949. Biologist NM Game and Fish Dept, Chief of Information and Education NM Game and Fish, Chief of Law Enforcement NM Game and Fish, Director NM Game and Fish Department for many years. Following retirement from NM state government, was National Rifle Association Executive, and later Regional Director Ducks Unlimited. Numerous national awards and recognition.
Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex composed of several areas near Bernardo, NM named in his honor and memory, as was a Game and Fish Department wildlife area near Tucumcari, NM.SETH GORDON AWARD INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES
The Seth Gordon Award , the Association's highest honor, is conferred on Administrators who have worked steadfastly and effectively for the best use of North American natural resources in the public trust and for contributions to the programs of the Association.
Ladd S. Gordon, retired Director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, typifies the ideal career conservationist in many ways. He was one of the longest tenured state conservation agency directors in the nation, having held this position for 13 years. Most of his adult working life has been devoted to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Immediately after graduation from the University of New Mexico in 1949, with a B.S. in Biology. he went to work as a Patrolman. He advanced to progressively more responsible positions as Biologist, Conservation Officer, Area Supervisor, Chief of Law Enforcement Division, Chief of Special Services including Information and Education, Acting Director and then to Director in 1963.
Under his tenure as Director, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish became recognized as one of the more progressive such agencies in the nation, and received international attention through its relationships with Mexico. His leadership encouraged his staff to develop new and novel approaches in wildlife management. For example, New Mexico was the first western state with a spring turkey hunt, the first state to hunt lesser sandhlll cranes, conduct an early bull elk hunt, the first to hunt exotic mammals such as the African oryx and Persian ibex, and the first to attempt the "silo" production of trout.
Major accomplishments have been in the areas of restoration of wildlife and the Department's capital improvement programs. Gordon can point with pride to successful reintroduction of elk and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in many areas. Restocking of desert bighorns, a program he initiated, was done this past year from an established captive breeding herd.
He Instituted and guided a capital improvement band program through
the State Legislature which permitted the sale of revenue bonds with the funds used for many projects including land purchase, take construction and hatchery renovation. Since this began in 1965, $4 million has been made available, which when matched with federal funds, has given the Department nearly $12 million to purchase tomorrow's hunting and fishing lands, waters and facilities.
Gordon conceived a series of scholarships to New Mexico State University for deserving students wishing to go into the field of Wildlife Management. The first was in memory of a Department employee killed in a plane crash a decade ago. Two more have been established since and all are funded by public donations.
Gordon chaired a committee of game and fish directors from throughout the United States representing the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners, that resolved a jurisdictional dispute concerning the status of resident wildlife on government land under control of the United States Department of the Interior. This landmark accomplishment that established rules and guidelines regarding jurisdiction over resident game by federal agencies, set a precedent and put to rest future controversies that would have come about.
He was one of the first to publicly censure the Smokey Bear philosophy that all forest fires are harmful. He pointed out in bold print that Smokey, who incidentally came from New Mexico, never intended for all forest fires to he extinguished. Now, most foresters and wildlife managers agree that properly controlled fire is an important tool in wildlife management. He directed efforts to improve his organization's relations with the sportsmen, landowners, other outdoor interests and the various federal and state governmental agencies throughout the United States and Mexico. A trade of antelope from New Mexico for rare desert bighorn sheep from Mexico resulted from this program.
Under his leadership the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish received the Game Conservation International Association annual award for outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation in 1975, the National Rifle Association Award for outstanding achievement in the field of Hunter Safety in 1974 and the Wildlife Society Conservation Education Award in 1967. He was President of the Western Association- of State Same and Fish Commissioners in 1973-74 and has served on the executive committee of the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners since 1969. He is a member of the Wildlife Society, National Rifle Association and several state conservation organizations.
Although Gordon recognizes that his accomplishments as Director resulted from a team effort through everyone in his organization, it is equally true that his strong, wise and effective leadership made it all possible.
He built a highly professional team through hiring of qualified personnel and a continuing in-service training program.
Ladd Gordon is a dedicated wildlife conservationist whose long, continuing efforts and leadership have resulted in significant benefits to all who enjoy the out-of-doors in New Mexico and for better management of the entire wildlife resources throughout the United States and Mexico.
Since his retirement, Ladd Cordon has remained active and involved in the natural resource scene. He served for three years with the National Rifle Association as a Field Representative, with special duties involving liaison between the NRA, state wildlife agencies, federal agencies. wildlife organizations, including the IAFWA and ether conservation groups. He continues his active interests in the wildlife and conservation field by serving as a Field Director for Ducks Unlimited.
Ladd Gordon is a leader. His long-term accomplishments in this capacity surely indicate that he meets all the criteria and deserves to receive the Seth Gordon Award presented to a professional in the wildlife field by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.See family manuscript "An American Family, Not Merely a Couple With Children," by his brother Larry Gordon.
Member Temple Lodge # 6, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Graduated from high school in Carslbad, NM. Attended University of New Mexico prior to marriage and becoming a full time mother.
Elijah was an Orderly Sgt. in Bradley's 3rd North Carolina Batt. Enlisted 7/201778 discharged 3/1/1779
Elijah Hinson is found in the 1790 (first U.S. Census) in Wayne Co. NC, as well as in the 1800 NC Census.
Quaker.