Meet Charles Gordon, Renaissance man

Charles Gordon

I have been an admirer of Charles Gordon since the first time I met him. He was 10 then and I asked him to appear in a golfing “Putt Off’ on KTUL-Channel 8’s Good Day Tulsa to promote the Boys & Girls Golf Tournament. Not only did he make a hole in one, to my surprise, he gave Keith Taylor quite a few useful tips on his swing, such as holding the club like a hot dog in a bun. Keith was surprised too.

But I don’t think anyone was surprised when Charles was selected as the Mabee Red Shield Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year, because Charles is a veritable Renaissance man. He creates art, he plays sports and he likes to dream big. “I want to be an executive chef in a restaurant that I own,” he told me yesterday. Currently, he is looking into Platt College and a school in San Diego to study for his culinary arts degree. And he’s only 14!

Charles and Kristin Dickerson

He’s been a member of the Mabee Red Shield Club since he was five years old. His dad, Jerome Smith, is director of the club and his mom, Jean Smith, is an administrative assistant to David Litterell, who manages all six Boys & Girls Clubs. In addition to liking to cook, Charles plays the violin and takes glass blowing classes through the club. His favorite sport is baseball, although he isn’t able to play this season because of a knee injury. Charles goes to school at Union School’s Eighth Grade Center. He told me Thursday that he’s already memorized the speech he’ll make at the Youth of the Year banquet Mon., March 25.
Break a leg, Charles, just watch out for your knee!
 –Sallie
If you are interested in attending the Youth of the Year Banquet, please call Jean Smith at 918-835-6902. Tables and individual tickets are available. If you would like to learn more about volunteering at a Boys & Girls Club, please call Jenny McElyea at 918-587-7801.