Mourning the loss of Jack Gordon

Today BRBTV joins other "Dukes of Hazzard" fans in mourning the death of Jack Gordon, known to us as "Honest" John Ledbetter in the show's pilot episode. Gordon, who had been ill for some time and lived in a nursing home in Canada, had recently turned 80.

Paul Harrington of the Canadian Dukes of Hazzard Fan Club operated a Yahoo group in tribute to Gordon and was one of his close friends. Gordon was scheduled to appear at Paul's cancer benefit, the Hair Dare Dukes Days, this August. Paul has renamed his Yahoo group in memory of Jack: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/In_Memory_of_Honest_John_Ledbetter/

"I don't understand why," Paul said about Gordon's death, "as Jack looked really good when we were there the week before. He was feeding himself, and we even got some video clips of Jack." Paul snapped the photo of Jack below a few months ago.


Besides campaigning against Rosco P. Coltrane for sheriff in the "One Armed Bandits" episode of "The Dukes," Gordon starred in the film "Jaws of Satan" in 1981 and "They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way" in 1978. He appeared at the Hair Dare Dukes Day event over the years, as well as the early DukesFest, to sign autographs and chat with "Dukes" fans. Gordon is survived by his wife, Janet.

There's a nice message string, with many photos, in memory of Gordon at the Confederate General Lee Fan Club board.

Gordon is the second death in the "Dukes" family in the past few weeks, as car builder Rich Sephton passed away on March 14. BRBTV sends prayers and condolences to the families of Jack Gordon and Rich Sephton.