All 127 of his students in Winnemucca earned their commercial driver's licenses under his tutelage

 

Western Nevada College (WNC) has announced the retirement of Earl "Butch" Gordo, who has served as the college's Commercial Driver's License (CDL) instructor in Winnemucca for the past three years. Gordo leaves behind a program record that speaks for itself: a 100 percent pass rate among his students and a lasting scholarship fund built from his own paycheck.

When Gordo joined WNC's CDL program, he set a personal goal of helping 100 students earn their CDLs. He surpassed that mark, ultimately guiding 127 students to licensure. Every WNC student who trained under him went on to earn their CDL.

“Butch's dedication to his students didn't just meet the bar we set for the program; it redefined it," said WNC Continuing Education Manager Lauren Slemenda Moore, who oversees the college’s CDL programs in Carson City, Fallon and Winnemucca. "A perfect completion rate over three years, at that volume, reflects an instructor who gave everything to the people in his classroom."

Beyond the classroom, Gordo made an extraordinary commitment to the program's future. He donated a significant portion of his own salary back to the college to establish the Butch Gordo CDL Scholarship, an endowed fund supporting veterans and rural Nevadans pursuing their CDLs. Over the course of his tenure, Gordo took the opportunity to personally teach several students who received the scholarship that bears his name.

"Butch didn't just train drivers, he invested in the next generation of them," said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. "The scholarship he built will keep opening doors for veterans and rural students long after his retirement.

“WNC thanks Butch Gordo for his three years of service and the lasting impact of his instruction, generosity, and commitment to Nevada's workforce.”

Management of the CDL program in Winnemucca is transitioning to Great Basin College (GBC). Prospective students and community members interested in CDL training in the Winnemucca area can contact GBC directly at (775) 327-5300 and continuing-ed@gbcnv.edu.