Arthur Gore

Mr. Gore, the son of Thomas and Cecilia Gore, was born in the City of New York in 1917. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named an All American football player. A World War II veteran, he was stationed in Hawaii where he served as an Army cryptographer, relaying messages between the Pacific theater and Washington and deciphering Japanese communiqués. After the war, he returned to New York where he launched a varied and successful career in sports and advertising.

Arthur Gore was, above all, a genuine entrepreneur, a creative and brilliant intellect who constantly sought new ways to not simply earn a living, but to use his considerable talents to remain entertained and challenged. He parlayed the happy combination of a distinctly deep voice and intuitive understanding of the game of baseball into a job as a play-by-play radio announcer for the historic New York Giants, riding the team bus and getting to know the players. In the early days of television, he successfully pitched a concept for live telecasts of prize fights, direct from a studio in Grand Central Station, New York. The result was the famed “Sunday Night Fights.” He recruited the athletes, put up the purse and created a fan base using the new medium of television.

In the mid-50’s, working from his advertising agency, Gilligan and Gore, he struck upon the idea of advertising in New York City taxicabs. He developed a leather sleeve that draped over the front seat of the cab, with leather pockets that faced the passengers. The leather pockets contained advertising panels. “I went to one of the restaurants that was advertising in the cabs. The owner pointed out several tables that were filled with folks who had seen the taxi ads,” he later recounted. “He doubled his order and I knew I had a success.” The seat-back sleeve evolved into the familiar roof top signs so common on taxicabs in New York and elsewhere.

One outgrowth of the taxi advertising was the creation of Taxi News, a trade newspaper he created for fleet owners and cabbies. Using the paper as his vehicle, he became a strong advocate for medallion owners and drivers and he developed long lasting relationships with high-ranking City officials and a number of New York journalists.

Golf was one of the ruling passions of his life and he was an early resident of Marco Island, relishing the opportunity to extend the golf season. He valued the friendships formed on the links as much as valued the game itself and gave up the game only a year ago. For many years he divided his time between his home in Sea Cliff, New York and his residence on Marco Island. In the late 1990’s he became a full time resident of Marco Island, which he frequently referred to as “paradise.”

Mr. Gore is survived by his wife, Carol Matthews Gore, of the Island. He was predeceased by his first wife, Marjorie Gilligan Gore. He is survived by his wife’s children, Libby and David Taber and Michael Matthews, grandchildren Jamie Taber, (Chantal): Lindsay Klein (Kyle); Peter Matthews II; Tiffany Matthews; Mary Matthews; and Elizabeth Matthews and great-grandchildren, McKayla, Brady, Gavin and Milo Klein; and Finley, Fiona and Owen Taber, who drew him into their lives and delighted him with their affection and support. He is also survived by an extended family of “nieces” and “nephews” whose bonds were forged not by blood, but by a lifetime of love, laughter and respect.

Services will be private. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be sent to: Humane Society of Collier County, 370 Airport-Pulling Rd N. Naples, FL 34104 or United Church of Marco Island.

Arrangements under the direction of Hodges-Josberger Funeral Home, Marco Island, FL.