Chairman of the Board Gordon Food Service (Deceased) – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Ben and Ruth Gordon, Paul Gordon earned his degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. He served in the United States Navy, earning the rank of Lieutenant and joined the family business in 1948 as a salesman. Gordon Food Service planted its roots at the turn of the century when Paul’s Grandfather, Isaac VanWestenbrugge, started delivering butter and eggs from a horse and wagon. In 1942, the company was incorporated as Gordon Food Service; is family owned and operated, and is one of the largest independent food service distributors in the country. With a marketing area that extends throughout Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, Gordon Food Service (GFS) operates from three distribution centers, two in Grand Rapids and one in Brighton, Michigan. After Paul Gordon joined the company in 1948, he advanced through many positions to that of President of GFS in 1965 and was elected Chairman in 1990. Mr. Gordon and his wife, Dottie, have four children. His sons, Dan and Jim, are employed with the company, one daughter, Joyce and her husband, Ron, reside in Grand Rapids and daughter Connie and her husband live out of state. “If it’s worthwhile, it’s worth doing.”
