The four seasons may change, but the season of giving back is always in and that is evident to Greenville native Lawrence Gordon’s Joseph E. Gordon Memorial Scholarship.
There are some profound reasons why Gordon started the Joseph E. Gordon Memorial Scholarship, one, he said, is after being born and raised in Greenville, he believes he has a charge to give back.
Another is his pledge to donate yearly to his alma mater, Jackson State University, where he played football and earned his master’s degree in American History.
The most profound of these is in 1994, his son, Joseph, who was a freshman at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, died.
Although saddened by the loss of his son, Gordon said he still considers himself blessed because of the wonderful times he shared with Joseph, who he affectionately called “Joey.”
The very first scholarship, in memory of his son, was awarded in 1996.
Gordon, a member of the last graduating senior class (1970) of Coleman High School, spoke fondly of his high school and college experiences, noting while playing sports was great, academics was always the priority.
“A solid education is extremely important and it can really open lots of doors and opportunities for you,” he said. “There’s no doubt that my teachers at Coleman High and Jackson State did wonderful things for me.”
Gordon came from very humble beginnings, sharing that when he was a little boy, he picked and chopped cotton.
“My mom always wanted to talk about my grades first,” he said, noting she encouraged him to improve on his academics even though he was a gifted football player.
Gordon also said he and many of his peers were in single-parent households during that time, so the coaches were like the second half of their family.
“They encouraged us to not only be good football players, but to take care of our families,” he said.
The first African American to be elected to the council of the City of Haverhill, Florida as vice mayor, Gordon took his mother’s and educators’ guidance to heart. He is now in his fifth term of service.
The Joseph E. Gordon Memorial Scholarship is an award of $5,000 and eligibility for the scholarship requires that the candidate be an African American student from Greenville who enrolls in Jackson State University.
“If I can make a difference in at least one child’s life, that’s extremely important to me,” he said, also urging outgoing seniors, “Don’t forget where you come from, reach back and help someone else.”
For information about the scholarship, contact Jackson State University Development Foundation at 601-979-2282.
