Robert ‘Bob’ Anderson Passes Away; Was Coach, Principal, Superintendent and Public Servant For Over 40 Years

By  //  August 4, 2019

PASSED AWAY JULY 22 IN ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA

SPACE COAST DAILY TV: 2019 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENT – Robert “Bob” Anderson was a coach, principal, superintendent, sports official and served as a Rockledge City Commissioner for 20 years, including as Chair and Vice Mayor. Dr. Anderson, 92, passed away on July 22, 2019, in Rockledge, Florida.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Anderson, 92, passed away on July 22, 2019, in Rockledge, Florida.

He was a coach, principal, superintendent, sports official and served as a Rockledge City Commissioner for 20 years, including as Chair and Vice Mayor. The City of Rockledge dedicated an 80-acre recreational and dog park in his honor.

Anderson graduated from Winfield High in W. Virginia in 1945 where he was an outstanding football player. His freshman and sophomore years he played for legendary Coach Wallace Wade lettering his sophomore year.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army and was able to continue playing football with the Abilene Army Base Bombers for a year. He returned to college at Marshall where he lettered three years as a lineman.

After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in 1951 in Education and a Master’s Degree in Administration in 1954 he worked one year at B. F. Goodrich Corporation.

Anderson accepted the athletics director, head football, basketball and baseball coaching positions at his high school alma mater Winfried and taught social studies. He served there from 1951-1955.

Anderson’s football teams won two Putnam County and Southwestern Conference Championships and his 1952 team played for the WVHSA Class “B” State Championship.

He then assumed the athletics director and head football coach at Nitro High for two years, 1955-1956). His career won-loss record was 46-13-1.

Sports Pioneer Julia Beckman Dedicated 35 Years To Developing Girls’ Athletics in BrevardRelated Story:
Sports Pioneer Julia Beckman Dedicated 35 Years To Developing Girls’ Athletics in Brevard

In 1957, Winfried hired him as principal where he served until 1961. He then became an assistant principal at Stonewall Jackson Jr. High in Charleston for two years

Anderson departed West Virginia in 1962 to assume the position of assistant principal at Cocoa High School. He became principal from 1964 to 1966 and then moved into the position of Brevard County Assistant Superintendent for Maintenance and Transportation Operations.

He was a football referee for the Central Florida Officials Association, the Brevard County Officials Association and the Mid-Coast Officials Association, working athletic contests all over Central Florida.

He then was hired by Brevard Junior College as director of admissions.

ROBERT “BOB” ANDERSON was a coach, principal, superintendent, sports official and served as a Rockledge City Commissioner for 20 years, including as Chair and Vice Mayor. The City of Rockledge dedicated an 80-acre recreational and dog park in his honor.

During the next 33 years at what was to become Brevard Community Colleges and then Eastern Florida State College, he served in positions of dean of students, director of security and vice president of student affairs and athletics director. He earned his Doctorate in Higher Education from Nova Southeastern in 1979.

As athletics director, he oversaw 18 sports including men’s basketball, baseball, track, cross country, wrestling, golf, tennis, swimming, fencing and archery; and women’s volleyball, basketball, softball, fencing, archery, tennis, swimming and gymnastics.

Under Anderson, his programs won 44 Conference Championships, 15 State and NJCAA Region VIII Championships and nine National Championships.

He was a member of the Council for Athletic Affairs, Council for Student Affairs, and was a charter member of the Florida Junior College Athletic Conference and the FCCAA Executive Committee.

ROBERT ANDERSON’S extensive public service includes serving on the school board for 12 years, Rockledge City Commissioner for 20 years, Wuesthoff Hospital Board of Directors for 33 years and United Way of Brevard Board for 22 years. The City of Rockledge dedicated an 80-acre recreational and dog park in his honor.

Anderson’s extensive public service includes serving on the school board for 12 years, and Chair for eight years; Rockledge City Commissioner for 20 years, serving as Chair and Vice Mayor; Wuesthoff Hospital Board of Directors for 33 years, Chair four years; Space Coast Hospital Services Board for 20 years, Chair four years; United Way of Brevard Board for 22 years; Brevard County Library Foundation Board for 20 years; Cocoa Play House Board for 12 years; Cocoa ELK’S Club Member for 27 years; Rockledge Presbyterian Church Board of Elders for and Deacon for nine years.

His honors and awards include Distinguished Alumni Marshall University 1982; Brevard Community College Athletic Hall of Fame 1990; Florida Community College Activities Association Hall of Fame in 1992; Florida 4-H Hall of Fame in 2002; Brevard Community College Distinguished Service Award in 2006; and Council for Athletic Affairs Outstanding Recognition Award. The City of Rockledge dedicated an 80-acre recreational and dog park in his honor.

Anderson was preceded in death by his wife Charlotte Thomas Anderson; Father, Jerome W. Anderson and Mother, Mae Aeiker Anderson; Sisters Helen Mitchell and Maxine Roberts; and Brothers J.W. “Bud” Anderson, Attorney John G. Anderson and Twin brother William P. Anderson. Surviving is a brother Eugene Glenn Anderson of Hurricane, W.Va.

He is survived by his three children, son attorney Robert T. Anderson (Brenda) of Rockledge; son Stephen P. Anderson, a retired college professor of Lake City; and daughter Nancy A. Hanshaw of Rockledge. Bob had five grandchildren, including Stephanie McCook (Andy), Jennifer Anderson, Lisa Anderson, Tyler A. Hanshaw (Amanda) and Kathryn Gravenstein (Nik); and seven great-grandchildren. He loved his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much and leaves his Legacy to all of them.

Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard County’s Best and Most Read MagazineRelated Story:
Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard County’s Best and Most Read Magazine

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS