Cardinal Hall of Honor
Jimmy Anders made an outstanding contribution to Lamar’s basketball program as an athlete, but in a lifetime dedicated to the young people of the community, the Beaumont native achieved even greater accomplishments.
A two-year starter at guard in the 1946-47 and 1947-48 seasons, Anders was a key player as Lamar captured the 1948 Texas state junior college basketball championship. Also, in 1948, he received the John Gray Award for having the highest grade-point average among student-athletes.
As head basketball coach for 17 years at South Park High School, he posted a 350-223 record. The highlight of Anders’ career came in 1960, when South Park won the Class 4A state championship and he was named Coach of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches Association.
Anders, who spent 33 years as an educator, and taught a Sunday school class for many years, was active in Beaumont’s summer league baseball programs. He received a rare honor when the city of Beaumont proclaimed Sept. 13, 1975, as “Jimmy Anders Day.”
