Gordon L. Eggleston began his tenure at Ithaca College in 1965, as a member of the faculty and head gymnastics coach. Throughout his 29-year career at IC, he taught numerous courses within the Departments of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. He retired as an assistant professor in 1995, and continued as a part-time instructor for two more years, teaching courses such as field archery, fly fishing, and fly tying. He also helped establish the Ithaca College Natural Lands.
Prior to his career at IC, Gordon taught physical education for 10 years in various public schools in New York and Florida. While in Florida, he also served for three years as recreation director for the city of Leesburg. In 1951, he earned a bachelor’s degree at the New York State University at Brockport with a dual major in health education and physical education. In 1965, he earned his master’s in education at Georgia Southern University.
Gordon was regarded as a talented fly fisherman and bow hunter, as well as a master at fly-tying. His other great love was writing: prose, poetry, and music, especially Southern and country gospel music. Gordon had written both lyrics and music for some 94 such songs. He was a member of Pleasant Hope Baptist Church in Fairmont, North Carolina.
Gordon was born in Cooperstown, New York, and raised on his father's dairy farm. He and his wife, Kathy, had four sons and a daughter: Richard, Frank, Gordon, Lawrence, and Darla.