American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was the Archbishop of Denver, Colorado from 1967 to 1986
He was class president and captain of the football team at Osage High School.
He served as a chaplain in the United States Navy during World War II and worked with troops in the South Pacific, eventually reaching the rank of lieutenant.
His father, James Gordon, was a Democratic member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1933 to 1935.
He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope Paul VI.
