Walter A. Gordon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Gordon
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| Judge of the United States District Court of the Virgin Islands | |
| In office c. September 25, 1958 – October 1, 1968 |
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| Appointed by | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Herman Moore |
| Succeeded by | Almeric Christian |
| 18th Governor of the United States Virgin Islands | |
| In office October 17, 1955 – September 25, 1958 |
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| Lieutenant | John David Merwin |
| Preceded by | Charles Claunch (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | John David Merwin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Walter Arthur Gordon
October 10, 1894 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 1976 (aged 81) Piedmont, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Fisher |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley (BA, JD) |
Walter Arthur Gordon (born October 10, 1894 – died April 2, 1976) was a truly remarkable person. He made history by being the first African American to earn a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. Walter Gordon had a very long and exciting career. He worked as a police officer, a lawyer, and even an assistant football coach. He also served as the Governor of the United States Virgin Islands and later became a Federal District Judge.
Contents
Walter Gordon's Amazing Life
Early Years and School Days
Walter Gordon was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His family moved to Riverside, California in 1904. He finished high school at Riverside Polytechnic High School. Then, he went to the University of California, Berkeley.
At Berkeley, Walter was a talented athlete. He played football as a lineman for the California Golden Bears. He also excelled in boxing and wrestling.
A Star Athlete
Walter was the best on Cal's boxing team, winning the California State Championship. He also won the California State Championship in wrestling. He was a key player on coach Andy Smith's early Cal football teams. Walter played on both the offensive and defensive lines. He played almost every position on the lines except center. He was a big player at 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. But he was also very fast and knew exactly where to be on the field.
In 1918, Walter became one of the first two African-American All-Americans. The other was Paul Robeson. Later, Walter was honored by being named to the College Football Hall of Fame. He graduated in 1918 and then went to Boalt Hall to study law. He married Mary Elizabeth Fisher on July 22, 1920. He received his law degree in 1922.
Starting His Career in California
In 1919, Walter Gordon started two new jobs. He was hired as a scout and part-time assistant coach for the Golden Bears football team. He also joined the police force in Berkeley, California. In 1922, he opened his own law office in Oakland, California. He kept all three jobs until 1930, when he left the police force.
In the 1930s, he was the president of the Berkeley branch of the NAACP. This group works for civil rights. In 1943, there were conflicts in Los Angeles between young Mexican Americans and servicemen. Governor Earl Warren asked Walter Gordon to lead a team to look into these problems. Later in 1943, he stopped being an assistant coach. He joined the California Adult Authority. This group decides when people can leave prison early, which is called parole. He eventually became the chairman of this group and served for nine years. In 1944, he retired from practicing law.
Leading in the Virgin Islands
In 1955, while still working for the Adult Authority, Walter Gordon was chosen for a very important role. He was appointed Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. In the same year, he was named the "alumnus of the year" by UC Berkeley. He also received the Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medal.
In 1958, he resigned as Governor. He then took on a new role as a Federal Judge for the District Court of the Virgin Islands. He served as a judge for 10 years.
