Arthur Anthony Anderson (October 9, 1936 – February 25, 2021) was a professional

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

offensive tackle Offensive may refer to: * Offensive (military), type of military operation * Offensive, the former name of the Dutch political party Socialist Alternative * Fighting words, spoken words which would have a tendency to cause acts of violence by the ...

in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He is one of the few tackles to prevent

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional football (gridiron), professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, 1963, the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of profes ...

inductee

Deacon Jones David D. "Deacon" Jones (December 9, 1938 – June 3, 2013) was an American professional football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, and Washin ...

from accomplishing any sacks in a game (1961 season). His teammates on the Chicago Bears under

George Halas George Stanley Halas Sr. (February 2, 1895 – October 31, 1983), nicknamed "Papa Bear", was an American professional football end, coach, and executive. He was the founder and owner of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL), ...

included

inductees Stan Jones (his close friend),

Doug Atkins Douglas Leon Atkins (May 8, 1930 – December 30, 2015) was an American professional football defensive end who played for the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). He played college foot ...

, and 1961 rookie

Mike Ditka Michael Keller Ditka ( ; born Michael Dyczko; October 18, 1939) is an American former professional American football, football player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year, UPI NFL R ...

Early years

Anderson grew up in

Wahpeton, North Dakota Wahpeton ( ) is a city in Richland County, in southeast North Dakota along the Bois de Sioux River at its confluence with the Otter Tail River, which forms the Red River of the North. Wahpeton is the county seat of Richland County. The populat ...

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. 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.

Football career

Anderson wanted to attend

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...

, but the

University of Idaho The University of Idaho (U of I, or UIdaho) is a public land-grant research university in Moscow, Idaho, United States. Established in 1889 and opened three years later, it was the state's sole university for 71 years, until 1963. The un ...

offered scholarships, so he went to

Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...

for tryouts. He started as a freshman and was a member of Skip Stahley's

Idaho Vandals The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho. The Vandals compete at the NCAA Division I level as a member of the Big Sky Conference. The Idaho Vandals football, footbal ...

all four years in the PAC-9 conference. In Idaho, Anderson took the field with other future NFL players, including

Jerry Kramer Gerald Louis Kramer (born January 23, 1936) is an American former professional football player, author and sports commentator. He played 11 years as a guard and placekicker with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He w ...

and Wayne Walker. In 1957–58 Kramer and Walker made the second all-PCC team; Anderson and teammates Ken Hall and Larry Aldrich received honorable mention on the all-PCC team. Upon graduation in 1958, he had the choice to enlist in the military or be drafted, so he enlisted in the

U.S. Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionary ...

and was stationed in

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

. 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 The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

. His signing bonus was $750. After two seasons playing for

with the Bears (1961 and 1962), Anderson was traded to the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

where he played for one more season (1963). 8X10A 1961 Chicago Bears o-line practice 1

Personal life and other accomplishments

Following his tour in the Marine Corps and into the early 1990s, Anderson was featured in two

San Diego Hall of Champions The San Diego Hall of Champions was an American multi-sport museum in San Diego, California, until its closure in June 2017. It housed the Breitbard Hall of Fame, San Diego's sports hall of fame, which is now located at Petco Park. Breitbard Hal ...

Museum exhibits: for a dead-lifting weight record (>500 lb); and as a member of the 1959 undefeated champion

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (MCRD San Diego) is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and the former N ...

USMC Devildogs football team. Anderson married Sharon Hicks in 1961, a

San Diego State University San Diego State University (SDSU) is a Public university, public research university in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1897, it is the third-oldest university and southernmost in the 23-member California State University (CS ...

majorette A majorette is a female performer who combines baton twirling with dance movements, primarily associated with marching bands during parades. Majorettes may alternatively spin flags, fire batons, maces, or rifles. Some performers incorporate c ...

, and their son was born in 1963. After Anderson retired from the NFL, he returned to

where he and his wife had three more children. Anderson became a teacher in San Diego and was chosen to be swim coach at

Clairemont High School Clairemont High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12. It is located in the community of Clairemont, San Diego, California, Clairemont in San Diego, California, San Diego, California, United States. It is part of San Diego Unified ...

in 1965. He received his master's degree in Physical Education from

Azusa Pacific University Azusa Pacific University (APU) is a private evangelical research university in Azusa, California, United States. The university was founded in 1899 in Whittier, California, with classes first held on March 3, 1900, and degrees offered in 193 ...

. Anderson directed the

track team to 2 Western League titles, and his 1970-71 cross country team won the CIF-SDS championship.San Diego Hall of Champions. 2006. San Diego County High School Coaching Legends 8th Annual Induction Dinner. Program, p. 8. He served 8 years as football coach at Clairemont, leading the Chieftains to CIF-SDS playoffs 3 times and the 1975 Western League title. Anderson went on to lead the track and cross country teams at

Hoover Hoover may refer to: Music * Hoover (band), an American post-hardcore band * Hooverphonic, a Belgian band originally named Hoover * Hoover (singer), Willis Hoover, a country and western performer active in 1960s and '70s * "Hoover" (song), a 201 ...

and Crawford high schools to multiple league titles, lead a long-dormant

San Diego High School San Diego High School (SDHS) is an urban public high school located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, San Diego, California, Balboa Park in San Diego, California, United States. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School Dist ...

football team to a winning season. He was honored 9 times as coach of the year in 3 different sports. Anderson retired after 38 football seasons with city schools. He was named to the

Brietbard Hall of Fame High School Coaching Legends Roster in 2006,North County Times. 2006. SM Pop Warner Volunteer is in Hall of Champions. Sunday, December 3. p. B-2. was inducted as a charter member of the North Dakota Richland County Historical Society Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, and was inducted into Wahpeton Public Schools Alumni Foundation Hall of Fame in 2019. Anderson died peacefully in 2021, at the age of 84 under hospice care. He is survived by his wife, four children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

External links

1965 NFL Guide to Physical Fitness (Art pictured on the cover)
* *
Point Loma Nazarene Athletic Hall of Fame Shannon Anderson (daughter's accomplishment)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Art 1936 births 2021 deaths People from Breckenridge, Minnesota Players of American football from Minnesota American football offensive tackles Chicago Bears players Pittsburgh Steelers players Idaho Vandals football players High school football coaches in California People from Wahpeton, North Dakota