Bob Anderson

Sport: Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism

Induction Year: 1994

University: LSUUL-Monroe

After earning his degrees from LSU and serving in the Army, Anderson worked for the Monroe News-Star (sports editor) and Baton Rouge Morning Advocate (news) before coming to ULM in 1961. Alongside his sports information duties, Anderson also was a member of the journalism faculty. His sports information guides, programs and releases won state, regional and national first-place awards. Anderson believed the ULM football program turned the corner in the 1970s when it hired former Heisman Trophy winner John David Crow as head football coach and athletics director. Crow helped pave the way for the successful 1980s that culminated with the school winning the 1987 Division I-AA national championship under Pat Collins. “That was the big break,” Anderson said. “That was a defining event. We’d had some good teams before that, but (Crow) put us on the map nationally. We got a lot of national publicity. He was a name that helped recruiting. We jumped up and started getting more money from the booster club. That was his idea.” Anderson could have never imagined his career would span 33 years (the longest tenure of anyone in the athletics department) include employment as an assistant professor of journalism for the same length of time (“I didn’t have to do that but I really enjoyed it,” he said) and establish him as THE ULM sports authority. After his time at ULM, Anderson worked for Congressman John Cooksey, including four years as press secretary. Anderson remains a regular at athletic events along with his family. “I watch it as a fan,” Anderson said. “I sit in the stands because I like to yell.”

Anderson entered the ULM’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. His 2003 book “Indian Territory: The Story of ULM Athletics” is the definitive history of the program. “When you retire, you look for things to do and I’d always wanted to do that,” Anderson said of his book. “It was a good story. When I came in the early years of the university, athletics were poor. We didn’t have much to brag about. When we won the national championship (in 1987), I said, ‘There’s a rags-to-riches story.’” Anderson earned the Mac Russo Award from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for Progress and Ideals in 1992, the LSWA Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism in 1994, Mr. Louisiana Basketball from the Louisiana Association of Basketball Coaches in 1997 and was the first SID inducted in the Southland Conference Hall of Honor in 2002. Anderson won the George T. Walker Lifetime Achievement Award from ULM on Oct. 26, 2013. He was hired by President Dr. George T. Walker in 1961. The George T. Walker Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes those who distinguish themselves through professional and personal achievement and honors those who significantly contribute to the university and the alumni association. Anderson put his writing skills to work to earn the job at ULM in 1961 with a letter to Walker several years before his actual hire. Then working as a sports writer at The Monroe (La.) Morning World, Anderson had a vision for a sports publicity position that didn’t even exist yet. “I wrote him a letter saying ‘You ought to get one,’” he recalled. “’And I’m available.’ That was four or five years before and it stayed in the file I guess.”