Late Daily Herald reporter honored during Veterans Day ceremony
Remembered as "characteristically accurate, honest and caring," former Daily Herald Legal Affairs Writer Tony Gordon was honored Wednesday during a ceremony kicking off the fourth annual Veterans History Project at the Lake County courthouse.
The judges of the 19th Circuit commissioned a plaque in honor of Gordon's years of service in the Army, as well as his years as a legal affairs writer for the Lake County News-Sun and the Daily Herald.
The plaque will forever be displayed in the Lake County courthouse rotunda in Waukegan, officials said. The plaque - designed to look like Gordon's "Crime and justice" column - reads in part: "His coverage was fearless, fair and selfless. While his writing could be clever, amusing, direct or always insightful. He was universally loved and respected."
Lake County Chief Judge John Phillips, a retired lieutenant colonel with the Air Force, said during the ceremony that Gordon was respected by his peers in journalism, as well as the lawyers and judges at the courthouse.
He added seeing a Gordon byline on a story made "an ordinary story that much more special."
"He didn't do it for the glamour," Phillips said. "He did it because he was a hard-nosed reporter,"
A Wildwood resident, Gordon died of cancer in August 2012 at the age of 60. He had worked for the Daily Herald for 18 years.
Gordon was honored on Veterans Day because of his time as an airborne ranger in the Army and a veteran of the Vietnam War.
"He was important to (the employees and judges) in the 19th District," Phillips said. "It was important to us to keep Tony in the courthouse."
Gordon's honor came before veterans of the military were invited into courtrooms to tell the stories of experiences they had while serving in the armed service as part of the veterans history project.
The purpose of the project is to document their stories for the Library of Congress.
Volunteers from the Lake County state's attorney's office, the Lake County public defender's office, the 19th Judicial Circuit of Lake County and private attorneys sat down with veterans to ask questions of their time in the service. Their stories were recorded and documented by court reporters who volunteered their time Wednesday.
Wednesday's history project featured 29 veterans spanning all military branches, officials said.
The Gordon plaque dedication was a main focus of the ceremony.
"If Tony were here today, his first question would be, 'Why all the fuss?'" said his wife, Carolyn Waller Gordon. "Not one to seek out accolades or praise, Tony found satisfaction in doing the best job possible."