Walter Arthur Gordon (October 10, 1894 – April 2, 1976) was the first African American to receive a JD from University of California, Berkeley School of Law.

He had an extremely long and varied career where he served as a police officer, lawyer, assistant football coach, member of the California Adult Authority, Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, and a Federal District Judge.

In 1919, Gordon began two of his careers: he was hired as a scout and part-time assistant coach of the Golden Bears and joined the police force in Berkeley, California.

Governor Earl Warren sent a team, headed by Walter Gordon, to Los Angeles to evaluate the conflict.

Later in 1943, he retired as the assistant coach to join the California Adult Authority, that state's parole board, and eventually became chairman, serving for nine years.