William E. Gordon, physicist and astronomer, was born January 8, 1918, at Patterson, New Jersey. He received B.A. and M. A. degrees from Montclair (New Jersey) State College in 1939 and 1942 respectively, an M.S. degree in Meteorology in 1946 from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1953. He married Elva Freile in 1941 and they had two children, a son and a daughter.
Dr. Gordon served on the faculty of Cornell University from 1953 to 1966, first as Assistant Professor and ultimately as Professor of Engineering. He achieved international recognition for his design of a massive radar/radio, telescope to collect energy waves beyond Earth’s atmosphere, overseeing its construction at Arecibo, Puerto Rico, and serving as the Director of the resultant Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory from 1960 to 1965. He became a member of the Rice University faculty in 1966, also serving as Dean of Science and Engineering (1966-75), Dean of Natural Sciences (1975-80), and Provost and Vice President (1980-85). He retired in 1986 and became Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Space Physics and Astronomy and of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice University. He is a member of many learned societies, including the National Academy of Sciences (1968-), National Academy of Engineering (1975-), and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fellow (1986-).
Following his retirement from Rice University, Dr. Gordon returned to New York State, where he has continued work with professional organizations and also participates in philanthropic activities.
From the guide to the William E. Gordon Papers MS 408., 1947-1994, (Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX)
