Gary Patrick Michael Gordon was born July 11, 1940, in Caster, Alberta, Canada, to Gregory and Anne Hetherington Gordon
As a young Canadian, our friend Gary rode saddle broncs. He later traded that career to train horses for Halter, Western Pleasure and Reining events. In addition, Gary sold real estate, specializing in farm and ranch properties in Canada. Gary ultimately continued training horses in Germany for another three years.
Gary met a lady who caught his eye at a horse show in Lufkin, Texas. Thus began a very romantic, long distance courtship between Gary and Linda Thompson. He proposed to Linda while still training in Germany. They were married on December 9th, 1995. Gary and Linda currently own and operate Fossil Gate Farms in Argyle, Texas. Gary realized his dreams of owning a number of well known and well bred stallions that stand publicly, as well as to the impressive band of broodmares he developed over the years. These horses promote Paint, Palomino, Buckskin, Quarter and Appaloosa bloodlines at their finest. From these breedings, Gary and Linda have won 192 World Championships, while Fossil Gate Farms has produced many more for their customers. Gary had a special relationship with one stallion in particular, Mr Yella Fella, who was the 2016 Palomino Horse Breeders of America’s Hall of Fame inductee.
During his colorful life, Gary was a well respected judge and held cards with such recognized horse breeds as the American Paint Horse Association, American Buckskin Registry Association, Pony of the Americas, and Pinto Horse Association of America. Gary judged worldwide in Australia, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Mexico, Canada and the United States. Among the many shows Gary judged were such prestigious ones as the Dixie Nationals three times, Ft. Worth Stock Show twice, the European Championship Show and the Australian Nationals.
As a judge, Gary was recently honored by APHA awarding his Judges Emeritus award for 31 years of service. He served on the APHA Breed Integrity Committee until his death. He was an APHA National Director for 16 years, serving on various committees such as Judges and Breed Improvement. Gary was a Founding Member of WCHA, World Conformation Horse Association, serving on their Board for three years and on the Judges Committee.
Gary also served on the Board of the BHF, Breeders Halter Futurity, helping to promote foals from the top stallions of various breeds with classes for Open, Amateur and Youth exhibitors, with the largest payouts currently in the Halter Horse industry. Gary has been a member in good standing of PHBA, Palomino Horse Breeders of America, for many years. He was a member of the Ontario Quarter Horse Association and served on their board.
Additionally, Gary and Linda, as lifetime members of the American Quarter Horse Association, provide a generous annual donation for Halter class added payouts at the AQHA World Shows in Oklahoma City, a commitment which began in 2017 and will span the next three years.
Gary loved his horses, but also loved their canine family of German Shepherd dogs: Greta, Annie, Tasha and Abbey. These four-legged beauties hold a place filled with love in their home and in Gary’s heart. He and Linda also loved traveling, making trips to the beaches of Hawaii as often as possible, as well as visiting the family home in Vail and riding four wheelers at the family cabin in Antonito, Colorado, as frequently as schedules would permit.
Another recent trip included visiting Yellowstone National Park and seeing Old Faithful erupt on schedule and watching huge herds of elk grazing alongside the road. Other travels included going all over Europe, Australia, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Russia and a hunting trip in Africa.
Gary is survived by his devoted and loving wife Linda of Dallas & Argyle, mother-in-law Dorothy Thompson, for whom he had a special affection, as well as sister-in-law Christie Thompson, both of Dallas, son Michael Gordon, granddaughter Montana Bell and grandsons Zak and Devon Gordon, all of Canada. He was preceded in death by his mother Anne, his father who was killed at the end of WWII and was buried in Italy, daughter Julia Gordon and his beloved father-in-law James “Jimmie” Thompson.
Gary will be laid to rest in the family plot at Sparkman Hillcrest Cemetery, Dallas, Texas, on Tuesday, April 3, 2018, with a Memorial Service to be held at 12:00 Noon in the Chapel at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation of your choice to the AQHA Foundation (Research division) or the APHA Foundation (Scholarship Fund).
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