JACK B. ANSON

1925 - 2016

Anson, JACK B.
September 24, 1925- December 6, 2016 There was something different about young, skinny Jack B. Anson who enrolled at Central Michigan in the Fall of 1946. Still only 20 years old, he had spent the previous 3 ½ years fighting to defend his country in the greatest war the world had ever seen. Like others of his, the "Greatest Generation"-young, battle tested men with uncharacteristic strength and character who had written world history, he was now returning to attend college under one of the greatest pieces of social legislation ever, the G. I. Bill. Raised in Evansville, a Southern Indiana industrial Ohio River city, there was something unique about him that set him apart from his parents and four siblings. Raised in a working class Catholic family and groomed by Father Flaherty to attend the Seminary, devout in his faith, Jack was the only member of his family to ever graduate from high school. A poor kid growing up next to Helfrich Park in the 1930's, he loved golf and caddied regularly for milk money, once caddying for World Heavyweight Champion boxer, James Braddock, and notorious golf hustler, Ty "Titanic" Thompson. His first golf club was given to him by the Helfrich Pro, 2-time Masters and U.S. Open Champion Ralph Guldahl. As a kid Dad loved basketball. He had a hoop on his alley garage and was a local Evansville legend taking on all comers in one-on-one hoops in the 1930's. Skinny as a rail he could dunk with both hands. Inspired by the outbreak of WW II and living in an industrial Ohio River city already making LST troop/tank transport ships as America ramped up in preparation for the Normandy Invasion, young Jack transferred from Reitz High to Mechanics Arts to acquire useful technical skills to support the war effort. Convincing his mother to allow him to graduate early in December of '42 he enlisted in the USN at age 17 years, 2 mos. He never had a thought about college. It was far beyond his reach. He answered the call unflinchingly, just as he would throughout his life of service to his country and his community. Rejecting Officer's Candidate School and over-eager to defend his country, his service took him to the Pacific Theater where because of his intellect he was handed the enormous responsibility of serving as his ship's "Oil King" the person with the critical responsibility for fueling the ship's power plant and ballast on the USS Herald of the Morning, a troop armament and attack transport ship. Earning 7 battle stars Dad participated in the invasion of Saipan and General Douglas MacArthur's historic return to the Philippines (Leyte & Luzon), was in Hiroshima immediately after the drop of the 1st atomic bomb, "Little Boy," participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima where Medal of Honor winner John Basilone perished and was a part of the "Magic Carpet Fleet" transporting discharges from Japan back to the U.S. before being Honorably Discharged himself in 1946. Fate landed him after the war at Central Michigan. Fresh out of the war and armed with the G.I. Bill, college was now within reach. Unthinkable, but for this new program. Along with his WW II US Navy buddy Al Tulk, who became his lifelong friend, they had their pick of colleges to attend. The two of them concocted a plan of putting a map of the Midwest on their wall and throwing a dart at it. The dart would determine the college to which they would matriculate. That was how our father would discover Mt. Pleasant, a community to which he would become so devoted he would never leave and where he met the love of his life, our mother, Patricia Jane (Harrold). Mom, a Central Senior, and Dad, a Frosh, met in September, Dad's first semester on the CMU campus and would never be apart. They celebrated almost 64 years together when Mom passed in 2011. They were a dynamic team- Dad fully engaged in his career and in contributing to the Mt. Pleasant community and Mom quietly supporting him at home.
Dad's career started at Ganiard Elementary (1950-53) before earning a Masters in Ed. from the University of Michigan in '53, when he moved to CMU and its University Lab School. In 1961 he advanced to the MPPS where he became the first Principal at Mary McGuire Elementary and started a long association with the Sup't of Schools, Dr. Carlo Barberi. Serving first as Director of Instruction and then as the Ass't Sup't of Schools, Dad and Dr. Barberi became close friends and league golf partners for over 30 years at Mt. Pleasant Country Club, where Dad also served as President for many years. He was a Paul Harris Rotarian and Past President. A high point for the family came in 1982 when he was named Mt. Pleasant's "Citizen of the Year" in a ceremony at the Embers. In a life dedicated to children and education he served for many years on the Boards of: ICTC, The Child Growth & Development Center and the County Mental Health Center. He was appointed by Governor Engler to the Michigan Public Schools Retirees System board and also served as the Organizer for the Opening Ceremonies of Ethel Kennedy's International Special Olympics hosted by CMU in 1976. His many other activities included being a Co-Founder of Mt. Pleasant's Pony/Colt Baseball leagues. Jack and Pat raised three sons, Steve (wife Candy) who followed his baseball passion and played at UTEP before launching a career as a high school baseball coach and educator, Todd, a CMU grad and "Distinguished Alum" of the School of Science & Technology, University of Michigan Law grad and successful California lawyer and businessman, and Tim, a "Distinguished Alum" of the College of Business Administration and a top international tax partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, D.C. His grandsons include a former professional baseball player drafted by the NY Yankees now a minister, a teacher/coach, a lawyer, a Yale MBA candidate and two younger children. The trajectory and legacy Jack and Pat created for their children and their families and the children of Mt. Pleasant is, perhaps, the greatest part of their story. He set a wonderful example for his sons by displaying the utmost in work ethic, integrity and humility, along with his undying passion to make his community a better place for all. He served as a role model to each of his sons as well as to many others. Living up to Dad's standards was a daunting task but one to which each of his sons aspired, making each of us better-rounded individuals. While many other individuals have had significant impacts on each of our lives, we didn't have to look outside of our family for an exemplary role model - we were fortunate enough to be the sons of Jack Anson. All of their sons survive and include Steve and his wife Candy of El Paso, TX and their two sons, Steven J. and his wife Kerry and son Wyatt (2) of Anchorage, AK, and Kyle and his wife Madelyn and their two daughters Bethany (4) and Adelynn (4 mos.) of Culleota, TN; Todd and his wife Terri (Cole) of Coronado, CA and their two sons, Christopher (fiancée Kirstin) of San Diego and Ryan (fiancée Renee) of Connecticut and soon to be San Francisco; and, Tim and his wife Kristi and their two children Brian (13) and Kaelyn (11) of Oakton, VA. The Anson's closest cousin (or fourth Anson brother), Mark Field and his wife Debbe of St. Peters, Mo also survive his death.Jack was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Pat, who passed March 15, 2011. Family friend, Hall of Fame Sportscaster Dick Enberg delivered the keynote address and wrote one of his Enberg Essays when CMU dedicated the Atrium at McGuirk Arena at CMU to their parents:"Todd and his wife Terri's ('74) earlier gift of the Dick Enberg bronze sculpture now has a roof over its head. This gift from Todd and Tim and their wives, Terri and Kristi ('82), to Central Michigan University thankfully remembers Jack and Patricia Anson, parents that inspired the success of three talented and generous sons. Basketball was Jack's sport. He was a playmaker and a "son maker." Appropriately, his name is now associated with the Events Center Lobby. The Ansons proudly honor their parents, while paying tribute to all the gifts provided by this great University. "Oh My!" Dick Enberg, Baseball HoF FF '15, Basketball HoF '95, Football HoF '99. A Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 11 a.m. at The Jack and Patricia Anson Family Atrium, dedicated in their honor at McGuirk Arena at Central Michigan University, 360 W. Broomfield Street Mt. Pleasant. A buffet meal will be served. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 9, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 10 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Clark Family Funeral Chapel, 114 S. Bradley, Mt. Pleasant. Jack's family is requesting memorial contributions in his memory be made to the Jack and Patricia Anson Endowed Scholarship Fund at CMU. Donations may be sent to: Central Michigan University, Attn: Gift Processing, Anson Scholarship Fund, Carlin Alumni House, Mt Pleasant, MI 48859. The fund was set up by his family and is used to support a scholarship for a Mount Pleasant, Michigan high school senior who has meaningfully participated in an organized activity in high school that is sponsored by the Mt. Pleasant Public Schools and who has a minimum GPA of 3.0. Jack played an active role in selecting the recipient from select scholar athletes.