Missouri State

BILL ANDERSON
Basketball and Track, 1955-58
Inducted February 24, 1996

Bill Anderson was a two-sport athlete for Missouri State University. He lettered three seasons for the Bears in both basketball and track from 1956 to 1958. As a native of Marshfield and a basketball-baseball-track-softball standout in high school, Anderson transferred to MSU following a year at Springfield's Drury College and after serving two years with the National Guard in Korea. Anderson spent three seasons with the basketball Bears of Coach Eddie Matthews, including playing on the 1957-58 MSU ballclub which went 22-2, won the MIAA conference championship and reached the NCAA College Division regional tournament for the first time. However, Anderson's greatest MSU athletic successes were in track where he was a versatile performer for the Bears of Coach Aldo Sebben. Anderson competed in the sprints, high jump, long jump, hurdles, pole vault, javelin and relay events and he was routinely the MSU high point man in dual and relay meets. His all-around skills led to receiving an invitation to compete in the decathlon at the prestigious Kansas Relays in his senior year. He placed fourth in the KU event with a total of 5,249 points to set an MSU record in the decathlon, and finished second in the high jump in his best individual finish among the 10 decathlon events. Following his graduation from MSU, Anderson entered the coaching profession at newly-opened Hillcrest High School in Springfield, where he remained for 16 years coaching Hornet teams in basketball, track and golf. He has remained a long-time physical fitness advocate, establishing more than 45 fitness centers across Missouri. He also organized and opened Springfield's first center for competitive gymnastics.