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The Gordon Wilson Memorial Fund

In Loving Memory of Gordon Wilson (1941-2024)

It is with a heavy heart that The Archaeological Conservancy announces the death of our Board Chair, Gordon Wilson, who was killed in a carjacking in Santa Fe, New Mexico on Aug. 6, 2024. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Judy, his brother and sister-in-law, two nieces, two nephews, and five great nephews. His service was held Aug. 14 at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Fe. 

Those who knew Gordon can attest to his intelligence, kindness, and leadership. “He was a gentle man, in the old sense of the word,” said Mark Michel, President Emeritus. “On a personal level, he was a quiet, confident man. Everybody who came in contact with him respected and liked him.”

Western Regional Director Cory Wilkins described Gordon as a mentor, leader, and friend, admired for the skills and knowledge he brought to the board of directors. “Although Gordon was immensely supportive of all staff, there was one particular project in Nevada he really did not like,” said Cory, who has worked alongside Gordon for 14 years. “He called it ‘Cory’s Pile of Rocks.’ The site is now one of our preserves, but he continued to tease me about it. I will miss that, and many other things about the man. Losing Gordon is absolutely heartbreaking.”

Wilson served as chief investment officer and president of Kemper-Murray Johnstone International in Chicago during a 29-year career in finance, then returned to his passion—archaeology. He has served on the Conservancy board for two decades, including as its chairman since 2007. Prior to his work with the Conservancy, he sat on the board of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center for 14 years after he spent three years excavating Ancestral Puebloan sites near Cortez, Colorado.

 “By 2004, I had retired and was anxious to spend more time delving into archaeology—this time without having to sit in the dirt,” Gordon wrote in an essay about his path from economics to archaeology. “The Conservancy provided me with the opportunity to help prepare site management plans for newly acquired sites.” He has created plans to permanently preserve 25-30 sites. He also served on the board of Futures for Children, a nonprofit dedicated to the improvement of education for Native American students, and was a regular donor to Santa Fe’s Traditional Spanish Market, Desert Chorale, and The Santa Fe New Mexican’s Empty Stocking Fund. He and his wife personally sponsored at least one Navajo youth to attend college.

Southwest Region Projects Director Tamara Jager Stewart, who often accompanied Gordon to management plan meetings and sites in the Santa Fe area, said Gordon was “such a smart, generous, sweet man” who volunteered at Santa Fe Community College each spring to help people file their taxes.

He will be greatly missed. His family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Conservancy.  Donations will be designated for The Gordon Wilson Memorial Fund, which will help further Gordon’s legacy of archaeological preservation in the Four Corners region. 

 
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