Background
Gordon, William Edwin was born on January 8, 1918 in Paterson, New Jersey, United States. Son of William and Mary (Scott) Gordon.
academic administrator educator physicist electrical engineer
Gordon, William Edwin was born on January 8, 1918 in Paterson, New Jersey, United States. Son of William and Mary (Scott) Gordon.
Bachelor, Montclair State College, New Jersey, 1939. Master of Arts, Montclair State College, New Jersey, 1942. Master of Science, New York University, 1946.
Doctor of Philosophy, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 1953.
Professor, of Engineering 1965-1966. Director Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory, Puerto Rico 1960-1966 (conceived and directed construction of world’s largest antenna reflector). Professor, of Electrical Engineering and Space Physics and Astronomy, Rice University 1966-1986, Dean of Engineering and Science 1966-1975, Vice-President 1969-1972, Dean, School of Natural Sciences 1975-1980, Provost and Vice-President 1980-1986] Distinguished Professor Emeritus since 1986.
Foreign Secretary, N.A.S. 1986-1990. Chairman Board of Trustees, Upper Atmosphere Research Corporation 1971-1972, 1973-1978. Vice President Institute Union of Radio Science 1975-1978, Senior Vice-President 1978-1981, President 1981-1985, Honorary President since 1990.
Board of Trustees and Executive Committee University Corporation for Atmospheric Research 1975-1981, Vice-Chairman Board of Trustees 1977-1978, Chairman 1978-1981, Trustee 1975-1981, 1986-1989, since 1991. Board of Trustees, Cornell University 1976-1980. President since 1988.
Councillor American Meteorological Society. Fellow, American Geophysical Union, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Guggenheim Fellow 1972-1973. Honorary D.S. (Austin College) 1978.
Balth Van der Pol.
Board directors Taping for the Blind, Houston, 1994-2002. Captain United States Army Air Force, 1942-1946. Fellow Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (chairman professional group on antennas and propagation 1964-1965), American Geophysical Union.
Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, American Academy Arts and Sciences, International Science Radio Union (vice president 1975-1981, president 1981-1984, honorary president 1990-2010), International Council of Scientific Unions (vice president 1988-1993), American Meteorology Society, Philosophical Society Texas, Cosmos Club, Sigma Xi, Tau Beta Pi, Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Kappa Nu, Phi Kappa Phi.
Married Elva Freile, June 22, 1941 (deceased February 2002). Children: Larry Scott, Nancy Lynn. Married Elizabeth Bolgiano, August 31, 2003.