Walter William "Bill" Anderson

1936 - 2017

Walter William "Bill" Anderson

Knoxville, TN

Bill Anderson, age 80, passed away April 18, 2017. Mr. Anderson was prominently known as "the other Voice of the Vols" as he provided the color commentating for the Tennessee football games for over 31 years on the Vol Network.

He is preceded in death by his father, William Gordon Anderson; mother, Edna Anderson Gevedon; sister, Edna Dale Anderson; and step-father, Willis Ray Gevedon. Bill is survived by his wife, Jerrie Thomas Anderson; children, Billy and Melanie Anderson, Holly and Bo Broom; grandchildren, Jordan and Dawson Anderson, Jake, Rhys, and Edie Broom; in-laws, Judy and James Joy, of Morristown, Kina and Rodney Dutro and their children, Genesis, Trinity, Zion, and Eden Dutro, from Hendersonville, North Carolina; aunts, Viola Allison, Eva May Cairnes; and uncle, Ede Anderson. The Anderson family would like to also mention and recognize close friend Gene Moody. Bill also had special friends in Florida in Venture Out located in Cosby.

Bill was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina, in 1936. In 1954, he graduated of Manatee High School in Bradenton, Florida. He received a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee (1954) where he played for coach Bowden Wyatt. After attending UT, Bill was drafted in the 3rd round by the Washington Redskins as a wide receiver. He was selected by the team as rookie of the year in 1958 and player of the year in 1959. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 1959 and 1960. He played with the Redskins until 1963 when he suffered a severe knee injury. He returned to his alma mater at Tennessee (1963) as an assistant coach under then head coach Doug Hickey. In 1965, he returned to the NFL as a tight end for the Green Bay Packers. He was part of the NFL championship Green Bay Packers in 1965 and 1966 and played in Super Bowl I on January 15, 1967 vs. Kansas City Chiefs.

After retiring from the NFL, Bill moved back to Knoxville and was co-anchor alongside legendary Voice of the Vols, John Ward. The two held their positions for 31 years, both retiring after the University of Tennessee National Championship game on January 4, 1999. Bill was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. In 1971, he founded Insurance House, Inc., which specializes trucking insurance.

Funeral service will begin at 4:00 PM Sunday, April 23, 2017, at Central Baptist Church of Bearden with Rev. Ken Lambert officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. The interment will be on Monday, April 24th, at 11:00 a.m., at Burchfield Memorial UMC Cemetery, 3829 Byrds Cross, Sevierville, TN 37876. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to either the Pat Summit Foundation, www.patsummitt.org, or the Burchfield Memorial UMC Cemetery Fund, c/o Dale Hill, 3980 Thomas Cross Rd., Sevierville, TN 37876. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. www.rosemortuary.com.