James Marcus Gordon was born in Grant County, Arkansas, on June 27, 1875. His father was a rural school teacher in Hubbard, Texas. Gordon attended Trinity University, Baylor University, the University of Texas, and the University of Chicago. He then taught at Trinity from 1903-1916, became president of East Central (Oklahoma) State Teachers College from 1916-1920, was president of the East Central Oklahoma Education Association, and, from 1920-1924, was president of Henry Kendall College, which later became the University of Tulsa.

Gordon worked at Texas Technological College for its first twenty years, during which time he taught Latin and education classes and served as head of the philosophy and sociology department. He was dean of Arts and Sciences from 1925-1945, dean of men from 1925-1937, as well as and dean emeritus.

Gordon married Alice Land in 1896, and, together, they had four sons and a daughter- James Maurice, Wilson Harold, Gerald Grayson, Lynn Gray and Betty Alice. His busy civic work included being a Rotarian, a mason, a Knight Templar, and an active Presbyterian church member. The much beloved dean was honored in 1948 when a new dormitory, Gordon Hall, was named after him. This dorm later became the first co-ed dormitory at Texas Tech.

Mrs. J. M. Gordon passed away in 1950 in Lubbock, Texas. Gordon passed away a year later, on May 14, 1951 in Amarillo, Texas.