L. C. Gordon

{{Infobox college coach

| name = L. C. Gordon

| image =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|6|11}}

| birth_place = Abbeville, Mississippi, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|11|4|1937|6|11}}

| death_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_years1 = 1958–1961

| player_team1 = Oklahoma State

| coach_years1 = 1966–1969

| coach_team1 = Carver HS

| coach_years2 = 1969–1973

| coach_team2 = Texas Southern

| overall_record = 63–43 ({{Winning percentage|63|43}})

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

Lavalius Cyrone Gordon (June 11, 1937 – November 4, 2023) was an American basketball player and coach. He played college basketball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys from 1958 to 1961, where he was the first African-American to play for the team. Gordon served as the head coach of the Texas Southern Tigers from 1969 to 1973.

Early life

Gordon was born in Abbeville, Mississippi, and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he played basketball at Booker T. Washington High School.{{cite web |last1=Foster |first1=Earniece H. |title=Basketball legends L.C. Gordon and Jerry Johnson will be honored Sunday |url=https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/opinion/2018/07/13/l-c-gordon-jerry-johnson-living-basketball-legends/780946002/ |website=Commercial Appeal |access-date=February 5, 2021 |date=July 13, 2018}} The head coach of the Memphis Tigers, Bob Vanatta, told Gordon that Cowboys head coach Henry Iba was prepared to integrate his team and recruited Gordon on behalf of Iba;{{cite web |last1=Tramel |first1=Jimmie |title=L.C. Gordon proud to be an OSU trailblazer |url=https://tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/l-c-gordon-proud-to-be-an-osu-trailblazer/article_e46139b8-37c7-514a-852d-734c7eca1935.html |website=Tulsa World |access-date=February 5, 2021 |date=October 17, 2013}}{{cite web |last1=Carlson |first1=Jenni |title=L.C. Gordon thankful to be a trailblazer at Oklahoma State |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/3894298/lc-gordon-thankful-to-be-a-trailblazer-at-oklahoma-state |website=The Oklahoman |access-date=February 5, 2021 |date=October 17, 2013}} Gordon committed to play for the Cowboys without visiting the university's campus. As a guard, Gordon had considered himself as an offensive player but was converted to become the team's defensive specialist by Iba and assigned to guard the opponents' best scorers. He suffered from the effects of racism and segregation as the only black player on the Cowboys but credited his teammates with helping to embrace him.{{cite web |last1=Juliano |first1=Joe |title=Penn State's Trent Gordon gained awareness of racial struggles through groundbreaking grandfather |url=https://www.inquirer.com/college-sports/villanova/penn-state-football-trent-gordon-lc-oklahoma-state-color-barrier-basketball-20200716.html |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=February 5, 2021 |date=July 16, 2020}}

Gordon graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education.{{cite web |title=L.C. Gordon Named Homecoming 2013 Grand Marshal |url=https://www.orangeconnection.org/s/860/18/interior.aspx?sid=860&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=13116&ecid=13116&ciid=40765&crid=0 |website=Oklahoma State University Alumni Association |access-date=February 5, 2021}} He earned a master's degree in administration and supervision from the University of Memphis and a master's degree in physical education from Texas Southern University.

Coaching career

Gordon was named head coach of the Texas Southern Tigers in 1969 after serving as the basketball coach at Carver High School the three previous years.{{cite news |title=Former OSU Star Named TSU Coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/85792722/ |access-date=February 5, 2021 |work=The Waxahachie Daily Light |date=October 15, 1969 |page=6}} He amassed a 63–43 record over four seasons.{{cite web |title=Texas Southern |url=http://collegehoopedia.com/schools/texas-southern |website=College Hoopedia |access-date=February 5, 2021}} Gordon resigned as head coach of the Tigers on September 5, 1973.{{cite news |title=Basketball |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-evening-sentinel-sep-05-1973-p-10/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=97a8a35bdb8ba99eb29b8b79199b06299e0cb453-1612506641-0-AVqgIUkmfWVOx9tkDyrXw2HJrONmPL5kI9ooKFNf9sh4q0Vc1fL2NMsytOu4I-HCa14zx3oste0HEPvhanG1f1ihpYbVCDUgKqgQpgGEYPeRYUlicL9tNSQhtr5Fc9Tnj4Y3bbw2MnNMUMBbgY4uXzvl-dDrgdrIAVXC1uaBopiYL-gikCUk-IIdJhKVHgEhvrd0qSw2J-DFakC8mSYgHdMe-xKXxXltuflj0-YKAIoM1RfnoXRDLOUNsc9c8FcG7g7Yq5qSnkBkFHJ3S5Br0XeAxkVbRUq6ar-79ALAPBNTx04LVR1q21FCBDjP1UNIImT4BzCtdhqZIk1lT5xYue0-cQkNfBpM5DK73kBdVY_M |access-date=February 5, 2021 |work=Centralia Evening Sentinel |date=September 5, 1973 |page=10}}

Personal life

Gordon's son, Lavalius Jr., played college football and basketball for the North Texas Mean Green.{{cite web |last1=Sauber |first1=Jon |title=Penn State football's Trent Gordon inspired by grandfather in fight for equality |url=https://www.centredaily.com/sports/college/penn-state-university/psu-football/article244271797.html |website=Centre Daily Times |access-date=February 5, 2021 |date=July 16, 2020}} His grandson, Trent, plays college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks.{{cite web |title=NSD 21: Trent Gordon |url=https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/nsd-21-trent-gordon/ |website=Arkansas Razorbacks |access-date=February 5, 2021 |date=December 16, 2020}}

Gordon was honored by Oklahoma State University as the grand marshal of homecoming in 2013 and was a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

Gordon died on November 4, 2023, in Memphis, Tennessee,{{cite web |title=Lavalius Gordon Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/lavalius-gordon-obituary?pid=205639010 |website=Legacy |access-date=December 12, 2023}} at the age of 86{{cite web |title=Cowboy Basketball mourns the loss of 'trailblazer' L.C. Gordon |url=https://okstate.com/news/2023/11/10/cowboy-basketball-mourns-the-loss-of-trailblazer-l-c-gordon |website=Oklahoma State University Athletics |access-date=December 12, 2023 |date=November 10, 2023}}