McCollum Statement on Honoring Gordon, “Gordy” Kirk
Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of an extraordinary man, cherished community member and dedicated veteran, Mr. Gordon Willis Kirk, affectionately known as “Gordy.” Gordy passed away on March 2, 2025, just three weeks shy of his 102nd birthday. He is preceded in death by his loving spouse Gwendolyn and their legacy lives on through their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Born in Helena, Montana, Gordy and his family moved to Saint Paul at the age of 10 for his father’s work with the Northern Pacific Railway during the Great Depression. He graduated from Saint Paul’s Marshall High School in 1942. Gordy is a product of Saint Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, a predominantly African American community, most of which was demolished to make way for Interstate 94 in the late 1950’s. Throughout his life, Gordy remained a tireless advocate for the Old Rondo neighborhood by keeping its history alive and seeking healing and reconciliation by preserving its rich heritage and culture.
Gordy was a proud veteran of World War II. Bravely serving in combat, Gordy became a Quartermaster with a trucking company, Third Army, Fourth Armor Division (Patton’s Vanguard) on the front lines in the European Theatre from 1943-1945 at a time when the ranks of U.S. servicemen were segregated. The company landed at Omaha Beach six days after D-Day, was with General Patton at Saint-Lô, fought at Verdun and the Battle of the Bulge where he suffered frostbite on his hands during the winter. He stated that he felt fortunate that he was in battle on the front lines and came home whole.
Gordy’s courage was demonstrated well before he was deployed to Europe. Following his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1943, he and his fellow enlisted men departed by train for basic training at Fort Wolter, Mineral Wells, Texas. While in route the train stopped at a station; the African American men were told to leave the Pullman passenger cars they had been traveling in and go to the Jim Crow car – with its much less desirable accommodations. He refused; as did other enlisted men. He and the men essentially said, “If we’re good enough to fight for our country like other enlisted men, then we’re good enough to ride in a Pullman car like they do.” The train was held up for six hours as the railroad located another Pullman car for the group.
Upon returning to Saint Paul, Gordy drove a streetcar from 1947-1952 until streetcars were replaced by buses. He then went to work on the railroad as a waiter. He next went to work for Braniff Airways as a skycap, joining Northwest Airlines in 1960 where Gordy has a long and successful career, eventually becoming the head skycap, retiring in 1993.
His extraordinary commitment to his fellow veterans and their families compares to none. As a long-time leader and advocate in Minnesota’s veterans community, Gordy became the first African American VFW District Officer in Minnesota in 1986. He rose through the leadership ranks of the Fourth District as well as the state and national VFW organizations – advocating for all veterans while seeking to bring diversity to the ranks of our state’s veterans organizations and ensuring that all veterans are welcome. Gordy was instrumental in establishing the Twin Star VFW Post 8854, which was located on Concordia Avenue in the Rondo neighborhood until 2008 when the hall closed, with Gordy serving as the Post’s Commander.
Until well into his 90’s, Gordy was a VFW Hospital Representative at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, acting as an advocate for veterans attempting to resolve issues experienced by veterans at the Medical Center. When once asked the question “do any special veterans and their cases come to mind”, his response was: every veteran is special to me!
Gordy was very special to me and to the constituents of Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District. It was my privilege to nominate Gordy for a Minnesota Humanities Center Veterans Voices Legacy Award which I presented to him on September 11, 2016, for his outstanding work in service to others.
It was an honor to call Gordy a friend. He has been an inspiration to me and his legacy will continue to inspire many for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the remarkable life and the dedicated work of
Mr. Gordon (Gordy) Willis Kirk.