Anderson grew up in Wahpeton, North Dakota on the Minnesota state line, in a house his grandfather built. His father was Arthur Albin Anderson, the first North Dakota Highway Patrolman stationed in Wahpeton (6th in North Dakota), appointed in 1936.[3][4] Because of the similarity of their names, the family called him Tony. He went to a Catholic grade school, and lettered in all three sports at Wahpeton High School where his basketball team won the State Class A Championship in 1954.[5]
Football career
Anderson wanted to attend
U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed in San Diego. He was spotted in boot-camp and was able to play football for the duration of his military service. Anderson played for three years with the USMC, and was named to the All-Marine Football Team and All-Sea Service Team in 1959 and 1960. Upon discharge, he was recruited to play for the Chicago Bears. His signing bonus was $750. After two seasons playing for George Halas with the Bears (1961 and 1962), Anderson was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers where he played for one more season (1963).[1]
Art Anderson autographs a football. Chicago Bears visit Great Lakes Hospital patients with Red Cross, October 30, 1961. From Chicago Sun-Times archives.1961 Chicago Bears offensive line in action. "Bears Workout at Soldier Field for Armed Forces game Friday."
Personal life and other accomplishments
Following his tour in the Marine Corps and into the early 1990s, Anderson was featured in two
majorette,[12] and their son was born in 1963. After Anderson retired from the NFL, he returned to San Diego
where he and his wife had three more children.
Anderson became a teacher in San Diego and was chosen to be swim coach at
Crawford high schools to multiple league titles[13], lead a long-dormant San Diego High School football team to a winning season.[14] He was honored 9 times as coach of the year in 3 different sports.[13] Anderson retired after 38 football seasons with city schools. He was named to the San Diego Hall of Champions Brietbard Hall of Fame High School Coaching Legends Roster in 2006,[13][15][16][17] was inducted as a charter member of the North Dakota Richland County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame in 2011,[18] and was inducted into Wahpeton Public Schools Alumni Foundation Hall of Fame in 2019. [19]Art Anderson at 2006 San Diego Hall of Champions Brietbard Hall of Fame High School Coaching Legends induction, with members of his 1971 Clairemont High School CIF champion cross country team (and granddaughter).
Anderson died peacefully in 2021, at the age of 84 under hospice care.[20] He is survived by his wife, four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. [21]
^Larry Remele and Ginger Sprunk. 1986. North Dakota State Patrol Golden Anniversary Commemorative Yearbook. Walsworth Publishing Company, Marceline, Missouri. List of Uniformed officers 1935-1985, p. 76.
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