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Category B - Bowhunters
who have shown Excellence in the Design and Manufacturing of Archery
Equipment
George, Don &
Dave entered into a business partnership in the early 1950's producing
translucent panels for industrial buildings, fiberglass diving boards
for the southern California market and even dabbled with a composite
body for a motor vehicle. Shortly after they started Gordon Plastics in
San Diego, CA. they developed a fiber reinforced laminate for the facing
and backing of archery bows.
They were
lifelong hunting and fishing enthusiasts, which probably motivated them
to design and build the first of a popular line of bows, "Gordon Royal
Bows." The "Standard B0-Tuff" laminate they developed worked so well
that other bow manufacturers started using this material on their bows.
The rest is
history! About 1961 the three brothers also developed and manufactured
the "Glashaft and Graflex" arrow shafts, which they enjoyed field
testing along with the latest design in archery bows.
During late
August or early September, you could find the three brothers hunting big
Muley's in the Jarbridge area of Nevada, or in Northwestern Arizona.
They enjoyed primitive camping and the great outdoors that their dad
shared with them during the early 1920's in the general vicinity of
Torrington, Wyoming.
During the early
60's the three brothers were approached by Browning Arms to produce a
line of hunting bows under the Browning name, which they agreed to do.
Shortly after this time, they discontinued their line of bows and
produced bows only for Browning Arms, Co. After three or four years,
they turn-keyed all bow manufacturing over to Browning, and concentrated
on producing Bo-tuff laminate for general use within the archery
industry. Browning's bow business was purchased by a major manufacturer
with the industry and is still being produced today.
The three
brothers foresaw the potential growth of the bow market and managed to
expand the capacity twice by building a new facility in 1975 in Vista,
CA., and encouraging the new managers of the business to relocate to
Montrose, CO. in 1995. The company is currently housed in a 48,000 sq.
ft. facility specifically designed for producing composites for the
future.
Today Gordon
Composites produces frp laminate, and solid glass billet material for
approximately 75% of bows sold worldwide. Also the company produces
fiber reinforced products for infra-structure, industrial springs,
marine products, & artificial limbs.
George's
expertise involved the chemistry behind the formulas that made the
material perform and stay together. Don was the salesman with the
personality that allowed everyone in the industry to trust the material
they were using on their bow production. Dave's responsibility was to
keep the shop running and to produce the highest quality product
possible. Dave was also a member of the Pope & Young club and harvested
a mountain lion from northwestern Wyoming when he was 70 years old. As
of today George is the only surviving brother and continues to watch
with interest the progressive evolution of archery. George is 92 years
young!
Authored by Dave
Gordon, Jr.
November 13th, 2003
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