Britton L. Gordon (September 21, 1909 - August 28, 2002) was born in Muskegon, Michigan to Lawrence O. and Margaret (Losey) Gordon. He graduated from Muskegon High School in 1927, then went on to graduate from Culver Military Academy in 1929. He earned a degree in engineering from Cornell University in 1933 and attended Cornell Law School in 1934.

For most of his career, Gordon was an engineer with the Blackmer Pump Company. He was also president of the company from 1965-1971. He retired from Dover Corp, the parent company of Blackmer Pump Division, as vice president in 1974.

Gordon served in the ROTC at Culver and Cornell and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, ordnance corps, Army of the United States in 1933. He served during World War II from 1940-1945 at the Chicago Ordnance District Office and the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, Industrial Division, Washington, D.C. Gordon then served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1945-1969, and was promoted to full colonel in 1949.

Gordon also served on many boards, including those of Blodgett Memorial Hospital and Grace Church of Grand Rapids. His government affiliations included the Kent County Aeronautics Board (1956-1978) and the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (1963-1979)

Gordon and his wife, Mary (Norton) had three sons: Britton L. Gordon, Jr., Tracy N. Gordon and Scott W. Gordon.