Ashley Anderson

Anderson, Ashley In July 2002, Ashley Anderson couldn't contain his excitement as he spoke on the telephone from his home in Clyde, N.C. He had just shot an 81 - his age - on the golf course. That's how he did things in life. He did everything well, with enthusiasm, and with an ability to enjoy himself and bring others along for the ride. At age 85, Ashley Anderson died peacefully at his home in Clyde on Nov. 10 in the company of his loving companion, Marge Niemi. He was a star football player at the University of Wisconsin, a member of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, a successful businessman and a proud father of four. A multi-sport star, Ashley was graduated from Milwaukee's Riverside High School and, in a common practice at the time, attended St. John's Military Academy in Delafield for a year before moving on to college. He decided on the University of Wisconsin and joined the Alpha Delta Pi fraternity as a sophomore, and he was with his fraternity brothers on Dec. 7, 1941. "We all heard about Pearl Harbor on the radio," he said. "We were all on the second floor of the fraternity in one room, listening to the radio when they described it. You can imagine the feeling then. A lot of the fellows were ready to enlist right then and there. You can't repeat some of the words, but basically everybody was upset." Like most of his teammates and fellow students, Anderson signed up for the Enlisted Reserve Corps, meaning he acknowledged he would be called into the armed services when Uncle Sam deemed he was needed. Anderson's most triumphant moment was when as a junior, he quarterbacked the Badgers to a 20-6 victory over the defending national champion Minnesota Gophers to end the 1942 season, the Badgers finished 8-1-1 and were rated No. 3 in the country. After that season Anderson and his Badger teammates scattered, entering the armed services. Anderson was sent to England in December 1943. where he helped supply parts to U.S. B-17 bombers in the area. At the time U.S. forces, included many college and pro football stars who staged some football games, both for other troops and for fascinated English spectators, and Anderson was a star halfback on several teams, one representing the Eighth Air Force squad. "We played one game in London against the Navy and it was exciting because Jimmy Doolittle came down between halves and shook hands with all of us. That was sort of exciting. It was a big stadium; there were 60,000 people there. "In the first half, I tackled this one guy and I had my tongue out and damn near bit it off. They took me to a hospital and sewed it up and I came back and played the second half." Such was the mettle of Anderson. Following the war, Anderson settled in Milwaukee and owned his own truck parts sales company. He was a regular golfer at Tripoli Country Club, and he continued his passion for fishing. He loved football, and attended many Badger games, and was particularly thrilled to attend the legendary Rose Bowl game with his daughter in 1994. He had a very active social life in Milwaukee, and enjoyed the company of many friends. He was particularly thrilled when he was visited by his old Badger teammates. And he loved it when his grandchildren visited a restaurant in the Madison area that still displayed a picture of the 1942 Badgers. He said, "My grandkids always go in there and say, 'There's my grandpa.'" Anderson had a great sense of humor, but above all a kind nature. He never spoke ill of anyone, and never had conflicts with anyone. He was a kind, and thoughtful, and always a gentleman. He had a reverence for nature, and particularly for the golf course. In retirement he remained the avid sportsman he had been. He did a lot of fishing and golfing. He was always a fierce, but good-humored competitor. On the golf course he shot his age not once, but three times, and delighted in out-scoring his kids, well into his eighties. In addition to his significant other, Marge Niemi, the mother of his children, Shirley Anderson, and four children-who all attended Shorewood High School and graduated from UW-Madison, survive him. Ashley Anderson, Jr., Mack Anderson, Bradley Anderson and Andrea Anderson. Ashley Anderson Jr., a surgeon who works for the University of Wisconsin Medical School is married to Beth Luckel Anderson. His other three children all produce television in Los Angeles. Four grand children, Dr. Alexandra Anderson of San Francisco, Abigail Anderson of Madison, Nicholas Anderson of Los Angeles and Ashley G. Anderson III of Madison, also survive him. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to UW- Foundation-Badger Fund which supports athletic scholarships.