Inductees

Every institution has its so-called “old guard,” a select few who have been on campus for decades and naturally care deeply about it.

Larry Anderson fits that description. He’s in the middle of his 37^th school year – 32^nd consecutive – at Central Methodist University, an NAIA school in Fayette.

A 1967 graduate of Central Methodist, Anderson coached the football program for 12 seasons beginning in 1983 and served as athletic director from 1992 to 2005. He’s also performed in unsung roles as a teacher and as Director of Admissions for nine years.  Just as importantly, Anderson fulfilled leadership roles for the Heart of America Athletic Conference as well as the NAIA.

As football coach, Anderson’s second team finished .500 for the first time in 16 years and followed with a winning season, its first in years. That was despite the program being well under the scholarship limit.

As Director of Admissions, enrollment grew by 35 percent, achieving the largest number of students in the university’s 160-year history.

As athletic director:

• The Central Methodist All-Sport Booster Club formed and the Leutjen Golf Tournament expanded.
• Facilities improved. The football press box was constructed and the bleachers renovated. The Alexander practice fields were developed and irrigation systems installed on all athletic fields. He also was instrumental in the design of new outdoor athletic facility and renovation of the Holman locker rooms.
• A full-time track coach was hired, and the athletic department gravitated away from part-time assistants to full-time assistants. Plus, cross country, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, baseball and track all competed in NAIA postseason under his watch.
• Anderson was honored as the HAAC Athletic Director of the Year in 1998, received the Midwest Region AD of the Year in 1999 and the NAIA Award of Merit in 2005.

Anderson originally graduated from Bolivar High School in 1963. He earned 11 letters and all-conference honors in football, basketball, track and baseball. During his senior year, he quarterbacked the undefeated football team and also keyed the basketball and baseball teams’ runs to the second round of the state tournament.

At Central Methodist, he lettered all four years in football, two years in basketball and two years in baseball. In football, he led the Missouri College Athletic Union in rushing three times and total offense once. He also captained the 1965 and 1966 teams, and earned all-conference honors three times as a running back. His sophomore year, he was honorable mention all-conference in basketball.

In 1966, he received the Estes Prize in Athletics, which was awarded annually to the outstanding athlete at Central Methodist.

For Anderson, that could have been the end of his time in Fayette as he moved back to southwest Missouri. He returned in 1982 after coaching in Marshfield and one year at Glendale High School after earning a Master’s in Education from Drury University. He also officiated other sports, including 51 basketball games alone in 1981.