Roll Call Tribute

Gordon Banning Richardson 

May 19, 1937 - November 12, 2024 

Gordon Banning Richardson, 87, of Caldwell, Texas joined the hand of his beloved wife Judy in Heaven in the early hours of Tuesday, November 12, 2024. He was born in New York City on May 19, 1937, to May (Shirres) Richardson and Ogden Richardson. Gordon grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. Services will be held at First Baptist Church Caldwell at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024.

Gordon graduated from Ashbury College School, and spent the next year and a half circling the globe as a crewmember on the Brigantine Yankee, skippered by Irving Johnson. The Yankee’s voyage is chronicled in multiple National Geographic magazine articles. During the cruise, Gordon and a ship-mate were lucky enough to discover the anchor of the HMS Bounty while scuba diving off Pitcairn Island.

When he returned, he enrolled at Boston University, and played on their varsity hockey team, as well as becoming a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. During the summers, Gordon was hired as first mate on the schooner “Victory Chimes,” taking passengers for week-long cruises along the Maine coast. It was this experience that introduced him to Boothbay Harbor, Maine, a place that would become an annual family summer destination for the remainder of his life.

After graduating from BU, Gordon and a fraternity brother made their way to Houston, a city that, at the time, was full of opportunity. Gordon started his career in Life Insurance with Provident Mutual, and met his bride to be, Judy Williams, on a blind date. In 1966 he married Judy in the First Baptist Church, and made their home in Caldwell. They opened Insurance Associates and a Sears catalog store on Buck Street in downtown.

It was around this time that Gordon caught the flying bug. At least initially, it was a way to cut down his travel time and see more clients. It became a lifelong passion for aviation. Gordon became very involved in the warbird community, owning and flying several WWII aircraft, he became a member of the Quiet Birdmen, and later Chaired the Texas Dept. of Transportation’s Aviation Committee.

Gordon and Judy were both very involved in local and state politics. Gordon worked on the campaigns of Jake Pickle and John Tower, among others. Gordon was instrumental in Sen. Phil Gramm’s early campaigns, flying him around the state to various campaign stops.

Gordon was very active in civic organizations, especially the Caldwell Lions Club. He eventually became District Governor in 1981, and served on the board of the Texas Lions Camp for Crippled Children (now Texas Lions Camp). Gordon also served on several committees for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Professionally, Gordon was a leader in the life insurance business and in 1986 he was elected President of the Texas Association of Life Underwriters. It was a lifelong career for Gordon, and he continued to be an active insurance agent until the day he died. Finally, Gordon was a rabid Aggie fan. He held season tickets to almost every sport, and regularly attended them all, home and away.

Gordon is survived by his two sons, Gordon Richardson II (Leslie) and Randall Richardson and grandsons, Will, Charles, Gordon III and Harry, all of Houston. Gordon was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Richardson.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation in Gordon’s name to the Texas Lions Camp, P.O. Box 290247, Kerrville, Texas 78029 www.lionscamp.com 

Express condolences at PhillipsandLuckey.com.