John Gordon, the man who designed the original Packers 'G' logo in 1961, died on Sept. 30, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — One of the founding fathers behind the Green Bay Packers’ illustrious logo died Saturday at the age of 83 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
In 1961 as a young art student at St. Norbert College, John Gordon was working as an assistant equipment manager under Gerald “Dad” Braisher when he was offered the chance to design what would become one of the most iconic logos in American sports.
In a video produced 10 years ago by St. Norbert College, Gordon explained how he was given the opportunity of a lifetime.
“Dad came down from his meeting with [Vince] Lombardi with a piece of paper in his hand, and he said that Lombardi wants a logo… and it’s going to be a ‘G’ in a football shape,” Gordon said.
24 hours later, Gordon’s carefully-sketched design was approved and the Packers’ original logo had been born.
His historic contribution to the organization earned Gordon a spot in the Packers Hall of Fame.
A lifelong artist, Gordon dedicated his life to mastering his craft and sharing his love for art with his students. He served as an art teacher at Parkview Middle School in Ashwaubenon before becoming an adjunct professor of art at his alma mater, St. Norbert College.
Gordon’s obituary states throughout his life, he created thousands of impressionist paintings, landscapes, portraits and still life pictures.
The Packers’ logo has been slightly modified since Gordon first designed it more than 60 years ago. Originally shaped like a football, the current ‘G’ is an oval.
Despite popular belief the ‘G’ stands for greatness, Packers team historian Cliff Christl says that myth has been debunked.
“The G stands for Green Bay. Prior to Super Bowl XLV, former NFL running back Tiki Barber concocted a story on media day about how the G stood for greatness. Although completely unfounded, the story spread like wildfire on the web,” Christl wrote in a 2015 article on the Packers’ website.
Gordon’s arrangements are scheduled for Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church in Green Bay, with visitation from 9:00-10:45 a.m. and his funeral service from 11 a.m. to noon.
In lieu of flowers, Gordon’s family asks people to consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association or Unity Hospice of Brown County.
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