Ted M. Anderson

Ted M. Anderson died March 28, 2006, at the age of 84, after a brief illness. He was born in Walsenberg, Colorado on March 9, 1922. His family moved to Oklahoma City, where he attended junior high school and, following the oil boom, moved to Corpus Christi in 1939. He attended Texas A&M as a proud member of the Corps of Cadets, class of 1943, but was inducted into the United States Army before graduation. Upon return from the South Pacific in 1946, he enrolled in the University of Texas Law School and graduated in 1948. He has practiced real estate and probate law, as well as some family law, in Corpus Christi from 1948 to 1998, when he retired as a "50 year" attorney.As an outgrowth of his services in legal aid in law school and an article published by him in the Texas Bar Journal on the duty of the Bar to furnish legal services to the needy, he was active in forming the Legal Aid Society of the Nueces County Bar Association in 1950 and served as president of its Board of Directors for several years. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Nueces County Bar Association at that time.He was an active member of the Downtown Lions Club, working with the Lions Club Minstrels which funded their civic projects. Out of this association grew an interest in the disabled and the Lions Club became the sponsor of Goodwill Industries in Corpus Christi, which subsequently employed some 75 to 100 disabled persons annually. Mr. Anderson served as president of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries for several years, during which time their present facilities were built on Port Avenue.He founded Corpus Christi Title Company in 1955, and owned the company for 38 years, until selling it to First American Title in 1993. He and a home builder developed five residential subdivisions and some commercial properties. He and another partner developed Raintree Plaza Shopping Center, which is currently the Ashley Center. He also developed Oakhurst Plaza and owned South Park Center on South Padre Island Drive. His latest endeavor was a manufactured housing development, Heritage West, near Five Points. Out of his practice of family law, he discovered the necessity for counseling and became active in the formation of the Family Counseling Services and served as chairman of that board for several years. These services made him aware of the importance of what then was known as the United Fund and he began working in most every area of that civic function. He subsequently served as President of the Board of the United Way of Corpus Christi. During his presidency the agency expanded its services to include the neighboring counties of Kleberg, Jim Wells, Bee, San Patricio, and Aransas. While serving on the Board of Directors of the Builders Association-Corpus Christi Area, he undertook on their behalf to coordinate a project to provide transitional housing for the segment of the homeless on the streets of Corpus Christi. He served as the President of the Board of Builders Transitional Housing, Inc., a non-profit corporation, coordinating these efforts which resulted in the initial housing of the first homeless family. These efforts continue today with the Salvation Army. During a more recent term on the Board of Directors of the Corpus Christi Bar Association, Ted was instrumental in the founding of the Corpus Christi Lawyer, the publication of the Bar Association, and re-establishing pro bono work in connection with Coastal Bend Legal Services. He was also chairman of the Legal Aid Committee of the Corpus Christi Bar Association and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Bar.Ted was an active member of First United Methodist Church. His greatest joy was sharing his Christian faith, of salvation through Jesus Christ with everyone he encountered. Many lives have been deeply touched and changed by his laughter, joy and love for his Lord, his life and his family.Ted is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Peggy Anderson; his son, Mark Anderson (Debbie), daughter, Cristie Colville (Jim), son, Jeff Anderson, and daughter, Gail Riley (Shane); 6 grandchildren: Travis, Alexandra, Noelle, Austin, Tessa, and Connor, and his sister Tess Arnold (George). In lieu of flowers please make donations to Metro Ministries.Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 30, 2006 at The First United Methodist Church.