Posted: Dec 12, 2014
"I am very honored to be selected as an inductee into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame," Anderson said. "Sure I am the one being honored, but Central Methodist University is being honored also, and for that I am extremely pleased.�I feel very thankful for all my colleagues, former players, coaches, administrators, friends and my family, for without them this award would not have been possible."
Enshrinement Ceremonies will begin at 11 a.m. CT with a reception at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame and will be followed with a reception at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center at 4 p.m. with the banquet immediately following.
Tickets for the Enshrinement are $150 each and reserved tables of 10 are $1,500. Tickets are on sale now and are limited, so reserve your seat today. All proceeds benefit the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. For additional information, please call Taylor Frederich�at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at 417-889-3100 or by logging on at www.mosportshalloffame.com.
A former student, coach, administrator and now faculty member at Central Methodist, Anderson has been a part of the Central Methodist community for five decades.
A native of Bolivar Mo., Anderson lettered in four sports at Bolivar High School before coming to Central Methodist in 1963. Highly recruited in basketball, he chose to attend Central Methodist to play football and other sports.
Anderson was a running back for the Eagles' football team from 1963-66 and earned All-Heart of America Athletic Conference honors three times from 1964-66.�He was a two-year letterman in basketball, earning All-HAAC honors in 1965, and baseball.�Anderson was given the University's Red Weir Award in football in 1964 and 1965 and the Estes Prize in Athletics as the school's top male student-athlete in 1965.�
After high school football coaching stints at Marshfield and Glendale, Anderson returned to Central Methodist in 1982 to become a professor of physical education and assistant football coach. He became head football coach a year later and remained in that capacity for 12 seasons until 1994 when he became the head men's and women's tennis coach for four seasons (1995-99). While serving as head football coach and physical education professor, Anderson was promoted to athletics director in 1988 and held that role until 2005.�
In 17 years as the athletics director, Anderson started the Eagle All-Sport Booster Club and oversaw the fundraising for new bleachers and press box at Davis Field. He also oversaw renovations to baseball's Estes Field and was the driving force behind bringing a softball field to campus. During this time, the Outdoor Athletic Facility for football and men's and women's soccer was constructed and renovations took place to the men's basketball, women's basketball and volleyball locker rooms and coaches' offices.
Anderson retired from teaching in 2005 to become the University's Admissions Director. In nine years,�Central Methodist experienced unprecedented growth, increasing undergraduate�enrollment�from 818 to 1,190, an all-time high.
Anderson retired from the Admissions Director role in July 2014 to resume teaching as an associate professor of physical education.�He has remained involved in athletics by broadcasting high school football and basketball games on KWRT and KRES.
Anderson has also served as President of the Athletic Directors Association (ADA)�and received an Award of Merit from the NAIA in 2005.��
Anderson has twice been named NAIA Athletics Director of the Year in 1999 and 2000 and HAAC Football Coach of the Year in 1984 and 1986.
Anderson has also received an Outstanding Secondary Teachers award and has been recognized by Who's Who among America's teachers.��
Anderson was inducted into Central Methodist's Hairston Hall of Fame in 2006.
Central Methodist has established the Larry Anderson Awards, which were given for the first time in April 2014 to one male and female student-athlete who has excelled in competition in multiple sports within the academic year. �
Anderson joins former Kansas City Royals designated hitter Billy Butler, former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Chris Carpenter, former Kansas City Chiefs kicker Nick Lowery, Missouri athletics director Mike Alden, former Missouri and Pittsburg Steelers linebacker Andy Russell, former Southwest Missouri State and NBA guard Winston Garland, former Central Missouri women's basketball, softball and track star Kathy Anderson, former Missouri State baseball coach Keith Guttin, former Glendale High School women's soccer player Ann Cook, high school football coach Fred Merrell, Bass Buster Lure Company founder Virgil Ward, Bob Roth, the Farmer Family, Webb City High School football program and the 1969 Missouri football team.
The Hall of Fame will also name Ned Reynolds the 28th Missouri Sports Legend and honor Chris Hamon with the President's Award and Advertising Plus with the Founder's Award.
"I believe that in the next several years others from this fine institution Central Methodist will follow Bob Vanatta, the first inductee from Central Methodist, and I into this prestigious group," Anderson commented.
The ceremonies are being presented by Killian Construction, who enters their 20th year as the presenting sponsor. Associate sponsors include Advertising Plus, Hillyard, Inc., Hiland Dairy and White River Valley Electric COOP.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame was founded by John Q. Hammons and opened its doors in 1994. The Hall of Fame features more than 4,000 items of sports memorabilia and exhibits.
