Kevin Gordon II: Making a name for himself

Kevin Gordon II

BY Dexter McCree, Feature Writer

ST. PETERSBURG — It is every father’s dream that one day he will have a child that surpasses his accomplishments and establish himself or herself as a well-respected citizen. When your father is provost of a college, his name listed in high school and college record books and he’s one of the most recognizable people in the community, it makes for a more challenging road to travel. This is the life of young Kevin Gordon and he’s handled it marvelously.

The young Gordon is no stranger to overcoming adversity.  He was born with a rare congenital disorder called Agenesis of the corpus callosum, in which there is a complete or partial absence of the corpus callosum. It occurs when the corpus callosum, the band of white matter connecting the two hemispheres in the brain, fails to develop normally, typically during pregnancy.

The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that divides the cerebral cortex lobes into left and right hemispheres. It connects the left and right sides of the brain allowing for communication between both hemispheres. The corpus callosum transfers motor, sensory and cognitive information between the brain hemispheres. It is the largest fiber bundle in the brain, containing nearly 200 million axons.

At the age of one, Kevin II was already in physical and occupational therapy. To overcome his challenges, he started preschool at three years old to work on academic delays. Today, however, he stands as a 2016 graduate of Admiral Farragut Academy.

“We treated him like any parent who love their child and want the best for them,” said Dr. Kevin Gordon, referring also to his wife Evyan.  “We didn’t let his condition be a crutch. He had a problem with focus and staying on task, so he needed a smaller classroom.  Admiral Farragut provided him with that set up.  We gave him a lot of family support and prayer. We wanted him to know that this is not your plight.”

At Admiral Farragut Academy, Kevin II began to make a name for himself. He joined the varsity basketball team as a guard/small forward and received the Coaches Award in his senior year for his outstanding contribution to the team. While on the varsity track team, his school was two time district champions, two time regional champions and 2016 Class A state champions.

Kevin II ran the 100 meter, 220 meter, 440 meter and 440 relay teams. He also was a part of the sprint medley relay team, which set a new school record.

“It has been an honor to attend Admiral Farragut Academy,” stated Kevin II. “They have taught me a lot from a young 14-year-old freshman to a 17-year-old senior. I have overcome many challenges in my life and that school has helped me realize that I can hurdle every obstacle in my path.”

Young Gordon will continue to make a name for himself as he plans to attend South Carolina State University where he will study business administration, sports management and continue to run track.

It’s not easy treading the path of your father when he has one of the most accomplished and recognizable names in the community, but Kevin II is well on his way to making a name for himself.