Lifetime APHA member and longtime APHA state director and committee member Linda Gordon of Argyle, Texas, died December 18. She notably owned Fossil Gate Farms with her late husband, Gary.
Growing up on a ranch, Linda loved horses—and Paints in particular—since childhood, and she enjoyed showing in all-around riding classes and roping before venturing into halter.
It was with halter horses that Linda made her biggest impact breeding, raising and showing numerous world champions across APHA and other stock horse breeds. Directly, Linda won nine APHA world championships, 11 reserve world championships and more than 5,500 APHA points; that is in addition to Open titles earned by horses she owned, as well. She bred Paints since about 1981, and is the breeder of more than 400 registered Paints.
Linda and Gary stood a number of world champion stallions at Fossil Gate Farms, including Mr Yella Fella (QH), Sock Broker and 2021 APHA Platinum Breeders’ Futurity Leading Sire Execute.
In addition to being an APHA state director since 1993, Linda served on a number of APHA advisory committees, beginning with the Amateur Committee in 1986. She also worked with the APHA Foundation, Breed Improvement & Registration, Judges, Long Range Planning and Ways & Means committees, and was chairman of many of those as well.
APHA extends its condolences to Linda’s friends and family.