Bill Anderson

James W. "Bill" Anderson was inducted into the United States Army in 1941 and sent to Maxwell Field, Alabama, where he started in the Glider Program. He was the first licensed Glider Pilot in the U.S. Army. Bill later transferred into the Air Force and became a twin-engine advanced flight instructor. He later transferred to Birmingham, Alabama, as pilot for Major General Harry F. Hazlett who had 36 installations under his command. Anderson was discharged as a first lieutenant in January 1946.

>After leaving the service, Anderson started a contracting business with his two brothers, Ed and Jack. Their first surface mining was done for Crosier Coal and Coke at Elkhorn, West Virginia. In later years they expanded their business until they had four operations; mainly located in McDowell, Wyoming, and Raleigh counties. At one time they employed 120 United Mine Workers of America miners.

Anderson has been active and held office in many social and professional organizations. He is a member of the Concord College Foundation Board serving as chairman from 1977-1978. He was a member of the WVMRA for 24 years and MARC Washington, DC, for five years. Anderson served on the board of One Valley Bank of Mercer County, Inc. as director for seven years.

Anderson's achievements over the years include the construction and donation to Concord College of a baseball field known as J.W "Bill" Anderson Field, and built six little league fields near Gardner, West Virginia. In recognition of his very generous contributions to sports in the surrounding communities, Anderson was inducted into the Princeton High School "Sports Hall of Fame" in 1999.