John Gordon, who’s credited with drawing the original Green Bay Packers logo, died Saturday at age 83.
According to his obituary, Gordon died after living with Alzheimer’s disease. He passed away peacefully with family by his side.
As an art student at St. Norbert College in 1961, Gordon worked for Gerald “Dad” Braisher as a Packers assistant equipment manager. He explained how the opportunity arose in a video the school reposted.
“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.
Our college community is saddened to learn of the passing of John M. Gordon ‘64 at age 83.
Of his many notable accomplishments throughout the years, John is credited with helping design the original Packers “G” logo.https://t.co/vAno8SRMpU
— St. Norbert College (@stnorbert) October 3, 2023
Gordon sketched the logo later that night. The Packers, who recognized him in their Hall of Fame, have since tweaked the design.
Gordon taught art at middle school along with offering private lessons to children and adults. He also returned to St. Norbert as an adjunct professor.
“John had many beloved students and was happiest when he could bear witness to the profound, often therapeutic, and spiritual effect art had on his pupils,” his obituary said. “John was a lover of ideas, a philosopher, a seeker, a fisherman, an outdoorsman, a musician, a writer, and a book collector. John delighted his children with cross-country camping trips, summers at a family cottage, practical jokes, and his playfully inventive craftsmanship.”