4. Doctor, Mister Secretary, Professor, Captain USPHS Larry Jean Gordon
Attended New Mexico public schools at McGaffey, Coolidge, Tijeras, Magdalena, Eugene Field in Albuquerque, Atrisco in Albuquerque, University Heights in Albuquerque, Stronghurst in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Roswell; graduated from Safford High School, Arizona, 1943. Gila Jr. College, Thatcher, Arizona; University of New Mexico; University of Oklahoma; U.S. Navy PhM2/C, 1944-46 primarily stationed at National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; University of NM, B.S 1949, M.S 1951; University of Michigan School of Public Heath, Master of Public Health in Environmental Health, 1954, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from UNM 2007.
Larry Gordon is an Adjunct Professor, University of New Mexico. He has served as:
New Mexico Cabinet Secretary for Health and Environment,
Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Health and Environment,
New Mexico State Health Officer,
Founding Director, New Mexico Scientific Laboratory System,
Founding Director, New Mexico Environmental Improvement Agency (NM Environment Dept),
Founding Director, Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Environmental Health Department,
Chief Sanitarian, Albuquerque Health Department,
State Food Sanitarian,
District Sanitarian,
County Sanitarian,
and is a Commissioned Officer (Navy Captain), U.S. Public Health Service Inactive Reserve.Gordon also served as President of the 55,000 member American Public Health Association; Chair of the National Conference of Local Environmental Health Administrators; President of the New Mexico Environmental Health Association; Chair of the APHA Section on Environment; Co-Chair of the APHA Action Board; a member of the APHA Science Board; and is a consultant to numerous national public and private groups such as Underwriters Laboratories.
He was a founder of the Council on Education for Public Health (the national accrediting agency for schools of public health), a founder of the American Intersociety Academy for the Certification of Sanitarians (now the American Academy of Sanitarians), as well as a long time member of the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (the national accrediting agency for environmental health and protection academic programs.)
He has over 240 professional and technical publications. The Health Sciences Historical Library at the University of New Mexico has a collection of Gordon’s published papers, presentations, news clippings, honors/awards, and miscellaneous correspondence.
Gordon is a recipient of the:
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, UNM 2007
National Society for Public Administration (New Mexico Chapter) Distinguished Public Administrator Award - 1996
Univ. of Michigan School of Public Health Alumni Society Distinguished Alumnus Award - 1995
Distinguished Leadership in Environmental Management Award, American Society for Public Administration - 1994
County of Los Angeles Lester Breslow Award for Distinguished Service in Public Health - 1994
University of New Mexico Alumni Association Zimmerman Award for bringing credit to UNM- 1993
New Mexico Governors' Distinguished Public Service Award - 1988
American Public Health Association Sedgwick Award (the highest honor bestowed by the APHA) - 1987
American Lung Association Clinton P. Anderson Award for Outstanding Efforts to Improve the Health and Environment of New Mexicans - 1987
New Mexico Public Health Association Larrazola Award - 1987
American Academy of Sanitarians Wagner Award for Leadership Ability and Professional Commitment - 1984
New Mexico Hospital Association Commendation for Leadership in Health Care - 1981
Honorary Fellow Royal Society of Health for Distinguished Work in Connection With the Promotion of Health, London, - 1981
National Environmental Health Association Snyder Award - 1978
New Mexico Public Health Association Award for Distinguished Service - 1970
National Secretaries Association International, Boss of the Year Award - 1970
New Mexico Sanitarians Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Sanitation - 1967
Sanitarians Distinguished Service Award, International Sanitarians Assoc. - 1962
Western Branch, American Public Health Association Sippy Award for Meritorious Service to Western Public Health - 1962
National Environmental Health Association Mangold Award for Outstanding Contributions to Professional Advancement - 1961
Samuel J. Crumbine Award for Outstanding Development of an Environmental Sanitation Program - 1959Gordon planned and gained legislative authorization for the:
Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Environmental Health Department,
New Mexico Scientific Laboratory System,
New Mexico Environmental Improvement Agency (now the Environment Dept.), and the
New Mexico State Health Agency.He also developed and gained enactment of numerous state and local public health and environmental health statutes, regulations and ordinances; testified before the Presidential Committee on Executive Reorganization recommending the creation and scope of the Environmental Protection Agency, and testified before Congressional Committees supporting the passage of several key federal environmental health statutes.
Gordon is listed in:
Who's Who in America, 1988 - current
Who's Who in the West, 1970 - current
Member Temple Lodge # 6, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and Scottish Rite Masons.Also see the manuscript "Environmental Health and Protection Adventures" by Larry Gordon in UNM Medical History Library and the manuscript "Larry Gordon Oral Interview" in the UNM Health Sciences History Library. About 100 of Gordon's papers, presentations and policy letters will soon be on line at the UNM Health Sciences History Library. The Library also has an extensive collecton of Gordon's publications, presentations and media items.
August 16, 1999
Larry J. Gordon
1674 Tierra del Rio NW
Albuquerque NM 87107
Dear Mr. Gordon:
On behalf of the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center Library and the New Mexico Medical History Program, may I extend a sincere thank you for taking the time for your oral history interview.
There are few, if any, careers in the entire history of modern public health work in New Mexico more distinguished than yours, and we thank you for sharing your memories so generously with us. Your contributions to the development of a progressive, highly professional public health system in New Mexico are a prominent part of New Mexico's modern history, and we're grateful for the opportunity to help "pin it all down" for the record.
The tape of your interview will be transcribed in the next few weeks, and a draft transcription will be forwarded to you for review and correction. After you return the draft to us, we will incorporate your corrections and produce a final transcript. A copy of that final transcript will be sent to you for your files, and another copy, with the recorded tape, will be cataloged and filed in our Archives for future use by researchers.
Again, thank you for enriching the New Mexico Medical History Program with information and perspective available from no one else.
Sincerely,Holly Shipp Buchanan, EdD
Associate Professor Director
Health Sciences Center Library
HSC Computer Services
Albuquerque NM 87131-5686UNM Commencement May 12, 2007:
Honorary Degree Recipient, May 2007
Larry J. Gordon, Doctor of Humane Letters
Larry J. Gordon, an environmental health visionary, will receive the Doctor of Humane Letters for his long-term commitment and leadership in the areas of environmental and public health.
He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in science from UNM and a master of public health degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Gordon is known throughout the country as one of the great leaders of environmental health. He founded and directed the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Environmental Health Department, the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Agency and the New Mexico Scientific Laboratory System and subsequently served as New Mexico cabinet secretary for health and environment. He was also active as an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service.Gordon served as president of the 55,000-member American Public Health Association. He presented or published more than 240 papers profoundly affecting the field of environmental and public health. The university was well served by Gordon's tireless public service efforts. He was a senior fellow for the Institute for Public Policy and adjunct professor in the School of Public Administration and Political Science Department. Throughout his career, he mentored scores of environmental health practitioners who subsequently achieved eminence.
Nedra Callender Gordon:
Attended schools in Santa Fe, Dallas, and graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1945. Graduated from University of New Mexico in 1949 with a B.S. in Science and did graduate studies majoring in Biology. Was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority.
Was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps after attending the first Marine Corps Officers Candidate School following WW II at Quantico, VA in the summer of 1949. Subsequently worked as a bacteriologist and medical technician in Albuquerque prior to her marriage in 1950, and moved to Silver City NM where her husband Larry Gordon worked for the New Mexico Department of Public Health. Nedra also worked as the bacteriologist for the New Mexico Public Health Department in Silver City, performing milk and water analyses.
Became a full-time, stay-at-home mother following the birth of the first of her three children, Debra Gwyn, in 1951. Volunteer work for the American Cancer Society and Assistance League of Albuquerque.
She is always primarily concerned with the health and welfare of her family, and applauds their recognition and achievements. Enjoys bowling, bridge, and is a golf enthusiast active at Albuquerque Country Club and Pendaries Village.