Lynn Gordon

Published 10:29 pm Wednesday, December 2, 2009

TIFTON — Lyndon Clyde “Lynn” Gordon Jr., 65, of Tifton, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 at the Tift Regional Medical Center. A memorial funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors with Dr. Danny Ray officiating and eulogies given by Roger Womack and Carlton A. “Brother” Fleming Jr. A private committal service will be held on Saturday. The family will receive friends beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the 1992 State Championship football team from Tiftarea Academy.

Born on Sept. 16, 1944 in Washington, Ga., to the late Lyndon Clyde Gordon Sr. and Ivylyn English Gordon, Mr. Gordon was a retired second-generation high school football coach, athletic director and teacher. He graduated from Wrightsville High School in 1963, Gordon Military College in 1965 with an associate’s degree in business and the University of Georgia in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. He was of the Baptist faith.

Lynn Gordon excelled at whatever he endeavored, especially sports. At Wrightsville High School, he lettered in five sports including football, baseball, basketball, track and tennis. He scored a total of 26 touchdowns, had 2,152 yards rushing in his senior year, was All-State for three years, and played in the 1963 North-South All Star Game. In track, he won the state 100 yard, and set state records in the 100, 220, 440 relay and pole vault, thus earning the nickname “Flash.” All of his sprinting and football state records held for 15 years until they were broken by Herschel Walker. He also won state in tennis his junior year and averaged 20 points per game during his junior and senior years in basketball. He lettered both years in football and basketball at Gordon Military College and played varsity football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs from 1965 to 1967.

Coach Gordon led the Tiftarea Academy Panthers to win the GISA Region and State Football Championships in 1992. That year he was named the GISA State Coach of the Year, the Tifton Gazette All Tift Area Coach of the Year, the Macon Touchdown Club Coach of the Year and Head Coach of the GISA All-Star Game. At Tiftarea Academy, his track teams were region and state champions and he was named GISA State Track Coach of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1993. He had the most coaching wins in the history of Tiftarea Academy. He also coached at Avondale High School, where they won the North Georgia Championship, Worth County Middle School and Wilcox County High School, where they won a state championship in 1968 and the South Georgia Championship in 1970. While at Wilcox County, he was named Coach of the Year for 1968 and 1970. He was the ultimate athlete and coach.

He was more than just a football coach; he was a life coach who expected his athletes to be successful both on the athletic field and in society. Lynn saw the lighter side of life and enjoyed it to the fullest.

He loved the outdoors, especially bird and deer hunting and fishing on the Alapaha River. He was an excellent trainer of bird dogs and retrievers and was a master fly fisherman.

As a host and entertainer, Lynn was well known for his ability to fry fish, cook wild birds and grill meat. Everyone loved to eat the food that he had prepared, but more so, he will be remembered as never having met a stranger and being a friend to everyone that he knew.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia “Patty” Tew Gordon of Tifton; his children, Jenna Rose Gordon of Venice, Calif., Dustin Lynn Gordon of Pitts, Meg Matthews and Kathryn Nichols, both of Tifton, Brian and Pam Ahern and Jonathan Ahern, all of Atlanta; his brothers and sister-in-law, Dale and Myra Gordon and Phil Gordon, all of Americus; his grandchildren, Beau Gordon, Cassie Gordon, Caitlin Ahern, Hunter Ahern, Sam Douglas, Ben Douglas and Marlee Matthews; and his dog, Bones.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to an athletic scholarship fund in memory of Lynn Gordon c/o: Dale McGriff, South Georgia Banking Co. 725 W. 2nd Street Tifton, Ga. 31794. Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements and online condolences may be shared at albritton-beaumontfuneralhome.com.