Gordon was born in Abbeville, Mississippi, and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where he played basketball at Booker T. Washington High School.
[2] He suffered from the effects of racism and segregation as the only black player on the Cowboys but credited his teammates with helping to embrace him.
[1][3][4] Gordon graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree in secondary education.
[8] Gordon's son, Lavalius Jr., played college football and basketball for the North Texas Mean Green.
[10] Gordon was honored by Oklahoma State University as the grand marshal of homecoming in 2013 and was a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.