1976 and its Executive Director from 1976 to 1977. Partly as a 

 result of his close association with the scientific work in the Ames 

 Orchid Herbarium, he was ever cognizant of the importance of 

 basic research in horticulture, which cognizance was instrumental 

 in setting up in 1966 the American Orchid Society's Fund for 

 Education and Research to foster botanical research, education 

 and publication in orchidology. With deep interest in taxonomic 

 and nomenclatorial matters, Gordon was innovative in setting up 

 the International Orchid Commission on Classification, Nomen- 

 clature and Registration. He organized the First World Orchid 

 Congress in 1954 and was active as programme chairman for all 

 successive congresses through the seventh. 



Perhaps no other fact more clearly illustrates the results of 

 Gordon's organizational abilities than the incredible growth of 

 the membership in the American Orchid Society under his 

 stewardship, due in great part to his dedication and efforts, 



Gordon's publications are many and spanned the field of 

 orchidology from articles and the Beginner's Handbook for incip- 

 ient orchidophiles to mature taxonomic papers. At the time of his 

 death, he was hoping to write his History of Orchids in the United 

 States. One of his most successful publications was the book 

 Orchids — A Golden Nature Guide which he coauthored with 

 F.S. Shuttleworth and H.S. Zim and which was superbly illus- 



Mr. Elmer W 



M 



Upon his retirement, Gordon accepted an honourary appoint- 



M 



archives for the preparation of a history of the Botanical 



M 



M 



But Gordon was stricken with cancer shortly after he began this 

 project and was able to research only the material covering the 

 earliest years. His valiant struggle was, unfortunately, not 

 successful in giving him the strength to carry out this labour of 

 love which he had so long hoped to be able to do. 



Gordon's passing has created a void which in many fields of 

 activity will be hard to fill. His life, however, has left many 

 individuals and institutions richer— the measure of a real life of 

 dedication. 



70 



