Dates

• Existence: 1922-2004

Biography

Norris Anderson was born to Harry and Anna (Aabel) Anderson in Kearney, Nebraska, on August 16, 1922. Anderson worked at his father's jewelry store in junior and senior high school. In between helping customers he worked on articles for the Kearney Hub newspaper /www.kearneyhub.com>. While attending Kearney State College, he was sports editor of the school newspaper, the KSC Antelope.

Following graduation from college, Anderson became sports editor of the Daily Nebraskan at the University of Nebraska. He wrote for the Lincoln Star in 1941 and 1942. While in the United States Marine Corps, he served as editor of the The Chevron in San Diego. As a USMC combat correspondent in the South Pacific and China, he worked with Ernie Pyle and won an award for an article on Pyle.

Anderson served in many professional capacities through the years:

Sports editor for the Lincoln Star; 1946-54.

Sports columnist at the University of Florida at Gainesville and the Miami News until 1959.

Featured columnist for the national Football News.

Traveled with the Miami Dolphins for 18 years.

Wrote a weekly article for the Islander (Key Biscayne, Florida).

Publicity director for the University of Florida and the Orange Bowl.

Publicist for the third Patterson-Johansson world heavyweight championship fight in 1961.

Publicity director for the Miss Universe Pageant.

Publicity director for the late Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano and was coordinator of Marciano's program for juvenile delinquents.

Appointed to the Bud Wilkinson's National Council on Crime and Delinquency by President Nixon.

He received several awards and honors:

Dade Dolphins Booster Club as "the nation's leading football columnist."

Associated Press Writing Award.

Anderson belonged to several organizations:

Sports Writers of America

American Legion Joseph J. Duncan Post 119 in Estes Park, Colorado.

Knights of the Belt Buckle

Miami Touchdown Club

Norris Anderson was a personal friend of James A. Michener and introduced him to exiled Cubans who discussed their homeland with him. Michener then incorporated information from their conversations in his book on the Caribbean.

Norris Anderson passed away on November 13, 2004, at Prospect Park Living Center in Estes Park.

Source: "Obituaries: Norris Anderson." Estes Park Trail-Gazette Archives, Wednesday, November 17, 2004. Last accessed: 2008 March 25 /www.eptrail.com/archives/2004/11november/11-17wed.html>.

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