Collecting has been a lifelong hobby of Fritz R. Gordner, starting in grade school. Political science was his focus and collecting political memorabilia was his passion as it continues to be. A mountain climber since college, and while employed by the National Park Service in the Tetons, Fritz realized upon scaling Devils Tower that Theodore Roosevelt was to be thanked for claiming it as the first US National Monument. He learned that T.R.’s ambition, physical prowess and decisiveness was clearly in line with his own – “Just Do It!” He narrowed his collecting directives to Theodore Roosevelt, searching in every available garage sale, flea market, political collectors show and antique shop. His personal collection includes buttons, framed items, 3-D memorability, post cards, etc, plus a few one or two of a kind special piece.

His family includes his wife, Sandy, of 46 years, son & daughter-in-law Louis & Eliza, and grandsons Liam Rudolph and Theodore Rex (Teddy). Fritz graduated from Indiana University and immediately became an insurance agent in his family’s agency. He has served his community as founder and/or leader of Big Brothers, Children’s Bureau, Kairos Prison Ministry, the TRA Advisory Board and founder & President of the IN TRA. Interesting family influences: his maternal uncle was a “Bull Mooser” in Northern Indiana; and unbeknownst to Fritz until after his father’s passing, his father at 14 years of age sketched a caricature of Theodore Roosevelt, which remains a favorite piece in his collection. Fritz was destined to be a lifetime fan and collector of TR.