CPL US MARINE CORPS∼
His story shared by his wife Sharon:
Wahpeton, North Dakota is on the state boundary line of Minnesota. Baby Arthur Anthony Anderson was born across the Boide-Souix River at the hospital in Breckinridge, Minnesota on October 9, 1936, and then brought home to one of the houses his Grandfather had built in Wahpeton in the 19th century. His dad was Arthur Albin Anderson, one of the first Highway Patrolmen in North Dakota. Because of the similarity of their names, the family called the baby Tony. How could someone call a sweet little bundle from heaven, Arthur?
He grew up in Catholic grade school looking forward all day, in all weather, to recess and after school when he could play ball. Football, basketball and baseball were the seasons of his year. He lettered in all three sports in his small public high school. Small, but mighty, the Whapeton "Wops" won the State Basketball Championship in 1954. No wonder "Hoosiers" is one of his all-time favorite movies.
One might think "Wops" a particularly odd or even politically incorrect high school nickname. 1954 was an innocent time and the small Midwestern town a sheltered environment. The people there just shortened the name of the school to a handle they could yell. Tony was an adult in San Diego before he realized that "Wops" was a derogatory term meaning "without-papers" in reference to newly arrived Italian immigrants.
He dreamed of going to Notre Dame, (No wonder "Rudy" is one of his all-time favorite movies) but the University of Idaho was the school that offered the scholarship, so our 17 year old hero boards the train in his hometown and rides for two days to Moscow, Idaho. He makes the team as a starting freshman and has the great privilege to play for Skip Stahley all four years. The Idaho Vandals were part of the old PAC-9 conference and played some great teams. He lived with older guys who showed him how to go to college. Upon graduation in 1958, the situation was enlist or be drafted, so he enlisted in the Marine-Corps. Bull Trometter spotted him in boot-camp and told him to come play ball for the duration of his stay in the Corps. That sounded good to Tony. In the 40s and 50s, Service Ball was great football. It was a little like triple AAA to the few (16) professional teams. He played tackle for three years and was recruited by Fido Murphy to play for the Chicago Bears upon discharge. His signing bonus was $750. They didn't draft many in those days and to make it as a walk-on was rare, but he did it.
After two seasons with the Bears, Art was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. His bubble-gum football card was in the Chicago uniform. Although I saw one once, I never kept one and now they are extinct.
After pro-ball, we returned to San Diego. (Wahpeton, Chicago, Minneapolis all seemed cold and snowy) Tony began teaching as a substitute, then was on staff at Roosevelt Junior High (where I had gone to school) when called to be the Swim Coach at Clairemont High in 1965. He spent 17 years there coaching football and track. They were great years. We had a lot of fun with other staff members, the Marzanos, the Callans, the Cravens, the Dotsons, the Miners, the Krupens. We all ate a lot of pizza together. Our three little kids were out at the gym every Saturday, so mom (me) could have a day off.
He also coached at Hoover High, San Diego High, and Crawford. When he was coaching at Hoover our son, Gregg, was playing at Crawford. Guess which team I rooted for.
Art, Tony, Andy, retired after 38 football seasons with city schools. He was named to the San Diego Hall of Champions Coaching Legends Roster and just recently was inducted as a charter member of the Richland County Hall of Fame. (North Dakota)
We raised four children in the college area. They have all succeeded in their chosen fields. We have a park ranger, a YMCA director, a high-school coach and a paramedic. All are first-responders in an emergency situation. We are so proud of them and our eight grandchildren.
Life is good. The memories of our years at Clairemont High make us laugh and cry. We have kept lifelong friendships from those days. Tony still meets occasionally with the football team of the late 60s era and the State Champion Cross Country Team of 1970-71. He goes to Aztec games with Lee Dotson and they still replay each game from their seasons with the Chieftains.
His story shared by his wife Sharon:
Wahpeton, North Dakota is on the state boundary line of Minnesota. Baby Arthur Anthony Anderson was born across the Boide-Souix River at the hospital in Breckinridge, Minnesota on October 9, 1936, and then brought home to one of the houses his Grandfather had built in Wahpeton in the 19th century. His dad was Arthur Albin Anderson, one of the first Highway Patrolmen in North Dakota. Because of the similarity of their names, the family called the baby Tony. How could someone call a sweet little bundle from heaven, Arthur?
He grew up in Catholic grade school looking forward all day, in all weather, to recess and after school when he could play ball. Football, basketball and baseball were the seasons of his year. He lettered in all three sports in his small public high school. Small, but mighty, the Whapeton "Wops" won the State Basketball Championship in 1954. No wonder "Hoosiers" is one of his all-time favorite movies.
One might think "Wops" a particularly odd or even politically incorrect high school nickname. 1954 was an innocent time and the small Midwestern town a sheltered environment. The people there just shortened the name of the school to a handle they could yell. Tony was an adult in San Diego before he realized that "Wops" was a derogatory term meaning "without-papers" in reference to newly arrived Italian immigrants.
He dreamed of going to Notre Dame, (No wonder "Rudy" is one of his all-time favorite movies) but the University of Idaho was the school that offered the scholarship, so our 17 year old hero boards the train in his hometown and rides for two days to Moscow, Idaho. He makes the team as a starting freshman and has the great privilege to play for Skip Stahley all four years. The Idaho Vandals were part of the old PAC-9 conference and played some great teams. He lived with older guys who showed him how to go to college. Upon graduation in 1958, the situation was enlist or be drafted, so he enlisted in the Marine-Corps. Bull Trometter spotted him in boot-camp and told him to come play ball for the duration of his stay in the Corps. That sounded good to Tony. In the 40s and 50s, Service Ball was great football. It was a little like triple AAA to the few (16) professional teams. He played tackle for three years and was recruited by Fido Murphy to play for the Chicago Bears upon discharge. His signing bonus was $750. They didn't draft many in those days and to make it as a walk-on was rare, but he did it.
After two seasons with the Bears, Art was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. His bubble-gum football card was in the Chicago uniform. Although I saw one once, I never kept one and now they are extinct.
After pro-ball, we returned to San Diego. (Wahpeton, Chicago, Minneapolis all seemed cold and snowy) Tony began teaching as a substitute, then was on staff at Roosevelt Junior High (where I had gone to school) when called to be the Swim Coach at Clairemont High in 1965. He spent 17 years there coaching football and track. They were great years. We had a lot of fun with other staff members, the Marzanos, the Callans, the Cravens, the Dotsons, the Miners, the Krupens. We all ate a lot of pizza together. Our three little kids were out at the gym every Saturday, so mom (me) could have a day off.
He also coached at Hoover High, San Diego High, and Crawford. When he was coaching at Hoover our son, Gregg, was playing at Crawford. Guess which team I rooted for.
Art, Tony, Andy, retired after 38 football seasons with city schools. He was named to the San Diego Hall of Champions Coaching Legends Roster and just recently was inducted as a charter member of the Richland County Hall of Fame. (North Dakota)
We raised four children in the college area. They have all succeeded in their chosen fields. We have a park ranger, a YMCA director, a high-school coach and a paramedic. All are first-responders in an emergency situation. We are so proud of them and our eight grandchildren.
Life is good. The memories of our years at Clairemont High make us laugh and cry. We have kept lifelong friendships from those days. Tony still meets occasionally with the football team of the late 60s era and the State Champion Cross Country Team of 1970-71. He goes to Aztec games with Lee Dotson and they still replay each game from their seasons with the Chieftains.
CPL US MARINE CORPS∼
His story shared by his wife Sharon:
Wahpeton, North Dakota is on the state boundary line of Minnesota. Baby Arthur Anthony Anderson was born across the Boide-Souix River at the hospital in Breckinridge, Minnesota on October 9, 1936, and then brought home to one of the houses his Grandfather had built in Wahpeton in the 19th century. His dad was Arthur Albin Anderson, one of the first Highway Patrolmen in North Dakota. Because of the similarity of their names, the family called the baby Tony. How could someone call a sweet little bundle from heaven, Arthur?
He grew up in Catholic grade school looking forward all day, in all weather, to recess and after school when he could play ball. Football, basketball and baseball were the seasons of his year. He lettered in all three sports in his small public high school. Small, but mighty, the Whapeton "Wops" won the State Basketball Championship in 1954. No wonder "Hoosiers" is one of his all-time favorite movies.
One might think "Wops" a particularly odd or even politically incorrect high school nickname. 1954 was an innocent time and the small Midwestern town a sheltered environment. The people there just shortened the name of the school to a handle they could yell. Tony was an adult in San Diego before he realized that "Wops" was a derogatory term meaning "without-papers" in reference to newly arrived Italian immigrants.
He dreamed of going to Notre Dame, (No wonder "Rudy" is one of his all-time favorite movies) but the University of Idaho was the school that offered the scholarship, so our 17 year old hero boards the train in his hometown and rides for two days to Moscow, Idaho. He makes the team as a starting freshman and has the great privilege to play for Skip Stahley all four years. The Idaho Vandals were part of the old PAC-9 conference and played some great teams. He lived with older guys who showed him how to go to college. Upon graduation in 1958, the situation was enlist or be drafted, so he enlisted in the Marine-Corps. Bull Trometter spotted him in boot-camp and told him to come play ball for the duration of his stay in the Corps. That sounded good to Tony. In the 40s and 50s, Service Ball was great football. It was a little like triple AAA to the few (16) professional teams. He played tackle for three years and was recruited by Fido Murphy to play for the Chicago Bears upon discharge. His signing bonus was $750. They didn't draft many in those days and to make it as a walk-on was rare, but he did it.
After two seasons with the Bears, Art was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. His bubble-gum football card was in the Chicago uniform. Although I saw one once, I never kept one and now they are extinct.
After pro-ball, we returned to San Diego. (Wahpeton, Chicago, Minneapolis all seemed cold and snowy) Tony began teaching as a substitute, then was on staff at Roosevelt Junior High (where I had gone to school) when called to be the Swim Coach at Clairemont High in 1965. He spent 17 years there coaching football and track. They were great years. We had a lot of fun with other staff members, the Marzanos, the Callans, the Cravens, the Dotsons, the Miners, the Krupens. We all ate a lot of pizza together. Our three little kids were out at the gym every Saturday, so mom (me) could have a day off.
He also coached at Hoover High, San Diego High, and Crawford. When he was coaching at Hoover our son, Gregg, was playing at Crawford. Guess which team I rooted for.
Art, Tony, Andy, retired after 38 football seasons with city schools. He was named to the San Diego Hall of Champions Coaching Legends Roster and just recently was inducted as a charter member of the Richland County Hall of Fame. (North Dakota)
We raised four children in the college area. They have all succeeded in their chosen fields. We have a park ranger, a YMCA director, a high-school coach and a paramedic. All are first-responders in an emergency situation. We are so proud of them and our eight grandchildren.
Life is good. The memories of our years at Clairemont High make us laugh and cry. We have kept lifelong friendships from those days. Tony still meets occasionally with the football team of the late 60s era and the State Champion Cross Country Team of 1970-71. He goes to Aztec games with Lee Dotson and they still replay each game from their seasons with the Chieftains.
His story shared by his wife Sharon:
Wahpeton, North Dakota is on the state boundary line of Minnesota. Baby Arthur Anthony Anderson was born across the Boide-Souix River at the hospital in Breckinridge, Minnesota on October 9, 1936, and then brought home to one of the houses his Grandfather had built in Wahpeton in the 19th century. His dad was Arthur Albin Anderson, one of the first Highway Patrolmen in North Dakota. Because of the similarity of their names, the family called the baby Tony. How could someone call a sweet little bundle from heaven, Arthur?
He grew up in Catholic grade school looking forward all day, in all weather, to recess and after school when he could play ball. Football, basketball and baseball were the seasons of his year. He lettered in all three sports in his small public high school. Small, but mighty, the Whapeton "Wops" won the State Basketball Championship in 1954. No wonder "Hoosiers" is one of his all-time favorite movies.
One might think "Wops" a particularly odd or even politically incorrect high school nickname. 1954 was an innocent time and the small Midwestern town a sheltered environment. The people there just shortened the name of the school to a handle they could yell. Tony was an adult in San Diego before he realized that "Wops" was a derogatory term meaning "without-papers" in reference to newly arrived Italian immigrants.
He dreamed of going to Notre Dame, (No wonder "Rudy" is one of his all-time favorite movies) but the University of Idaho was the school that offered the scholarship, so our 17 year old hero boards the train in his hometown and rides for two days to Moscow, Idaho. He makes the team as a starting freshman and has the great privilege to play for Skip Stahley all four years. The Idaho Vandals were part of the old PAC-9 conference and played some great teams. He lived with older guys who showed him how to go to college. Upon graduation in 1958, the situation was enlist or be drafted, so he enlisted in the Marine-Corps. Bull Trometter spotted him in boot-camp and told him to come play ball for the duration of his stay in the Corps. That sounded good to Tony. In the 40s and 50s, Service Ball was great football. It was a little like triple AAA to the few (16) professional teams. He played tackle for three years and was recruited by Fido Murphy to play for the Chicago Bears upon discharge. His signing bonus was $750. They didn't draft many in those days and to make it as a walk-on was rare, but he did it.
After two seasons with the Bears, Art was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. His bubble-gum football card was in the Chicago uniform. Although I saw one once, I never kept one and now they are extinct.
After pro-ball, we returned to San Diego. (Wahpeton, Chicago, Minneapolis all seemed cold and snowy) Tony began teaching as a substitute, then was on staff at Roosevelt Junior High (where I had gone to school) when called to be the Swim Coach at Clairemont High in 1965. He spent 17 years there coaching football and track. They were great years. We had a lot of fun with other staff members, the Marzanos, the Callans, the Cravens, the Dotsons, the Miners, the Krupens. We all ate a lot of pizza together. Our three little kids were out at the gym every Saturday, so mom (me) could have a day off.
He also coached at Hoover High, San Diego High, and Crawford. When he was coaching at Hoover our son, Gregg, was playing at Crawford. Guess which team I rooted for.
Art, Tony, Andy, retired after 38 football seasons with city schools. He was named to the San Diego Hall of Champions Coaching Legends Roster and just recently was inducted as a charter member of the Richland County Hall of Fame. (North Dakota)
We raised four children in the college area. They have all succeeded in their chosen fields. We have a park ranger, a YMCA director, a high-school coach and a paramedic. All are first-responders in an emergency situation. We are so proud of them and our eight grandchildren.
Life is good. The memories of our years at Clairemont High make us laugh and cry. We have kept lifelong friendships from those days. Tony still meets occasionally with the football team of the late 60s era and the State Champion Cross Country Team of 1970-71. He goes to Aztec games with Lee Dotson and they still replay each game from their seasons with the Chieftains.
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