Deceased December 14, 2011
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In Memory
Horace passed away peacefully of natural causes on December 14, 2011. Born in 1916, Horace grew up in the shadows of Wrigley Field where he witnessed Babe Ruth’s called home run, but, alas, no World Series championship. He was a proud alum of Amherst College and Northwestern University School of Law, graduating near the top of his class from each of these cherished institutions. After law school, he worked for the legal department of Montgomery Wards. A few years later he enlisted in the Army, serving as an officer in the Counter Intelligence Corp during World War II. After his military service, he eventually returned to Chicago to form the law firm of Van Duzer, Gershon, Jordan & Petersen. He retired in 1986 and devoted himself to non-profit organizations and pursued his love of reading, traveling and sharing time with his family. He married the love of his life, Constance Tippens Jordan, in 1951 and together they raised four children, Robert Y. Jordan, Constance Jordan Lochridge, David C. Jordan and Horace (Hob) W. Jordan, Jr.
Horace spoke frequently of his love for Amherst. Unlike today’s students who devote countless hours evaluating where and how they might get admitted to college, Horace learned about Amherst by chance from an alum who supplied coal for the family’s home. Applying only to Amherst, Horace was awarded a $300 scholarship, which nearly covered the entire $400 tuition. Horace, who also went by “Bill” or “Bax” since there were numerous other classmates by the name of Horace, was a member of Beta Theta Pi, serving as President his senior year, and was a member of the debate team serving as captain in his senior year. One of his favorite memories from Amherst was the debate team’s victory over the team from Williams in his senior year. That victory clinched the Johnson Trophy for Amherst and represented the first time a non-athletic event supplied the winning stroke.
Horace (Hob) W. Jordan Jr.