Richard "Dick" Anderson

BIRTH:    March 5, 1938
    Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA
DEATH:    July 23, 2025
    Fayette, Fayette County, Alabama, USA
BURIAL:    Fayette Memorial Gardens
    Fayette, Fayette County, Alabama, USA

Brewer and Bevill State Community College basketball coach Richard “Dick” Anderson has died of natural causes at the age of 87.

Coach Anderson is survived by his wife, Carolyn Powers Anderson of Fayette, daughter Trena Anderson Bliven (Mark) of Fayette, and sons Trah Anderson (Amanda) of Jasper and Todd Anderson of Lebanon, Tennessee, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 26, 2025 at 2:30 P.M. from Nelson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Fayette Memorial Gardens. Bro. Clyde Stevens will officiate. The family will receive friends Saturday from 1-2:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Coach Dick Anderson was a career educator and multi-sport coach for 38 years, at the High School and Jr. College levels.  He began his teaching and coaching career in 1960 at West LaFayette Elementary in LaFayette Georgia, coaching 7th and 8th grade basketball.  Other coaching stints included Greenback High School (Boys & Girls’ Basketball) in Greenback Tennessee, Central Florida Jr College (Men’s Basketball) in Ocala Florida, Brewer State Jr College (Men’s Cross Country, Men & Women’s Tennis, & Men’s Basketball) in Fayette Alabama, Coalfield High School (Boys’ Basketball) in Coalfield Tennessee, New Hope High School (Boys’ Basketball & Tennis) in New Hope Alabama and Bevill State Community College (Women’s Basketball) in Fayette Alabama.

While best known as a Brewer State Men’s basketball coach and Bevill State Women’s basketball coach, many of his athletic team’s found success throughout his career. Eclipsing over 600 basketball wins over the course of his career, recruiting was always a challenge at Brewer State JC with no dormitories to offer his players.  With an eye for the gritty player other programs often overlooked, he overcame this difficulty to have a successful coaching career at both Brewer and Bevill State programs.

Notable Career Accomplishments
·    In 1972 his men’s basketball team finished 3rd in the NLCAA tournament in Albany, New York.
·    In 1974, 5 years after starting the Brewer State men’s program, Coach Anderson was selected as the Alabama Jr. College Men’s basketball Coach of the Year.
·    In 1973-75, he coached Garry Whitfield, a guard out of Tuscaloosa’s Holt High School who became the leading scorer in the history of Alabama Community College Conference Men’s Basketball, the same year the team broke the clock 16 times. (scored 100+ points)
·    In 1975 his Brewer State men’s team upset the #1 team out of Atlanta in the NJCAA Regional tournament finishing 4th in the Region.
·    In 2000, Coach Dick Anderson was selected as the Alabama Community College, Division II, Women’s Coach of the Year, at the time the only ACCC coach to win a coach of the year award in both men and women’s basketball.
·    Elected to the Fayette County Hall of Fame
·    Elected to the Tennessee Wesleyan College Hall of Fame

Athletic programs started by Dick Anderson in Fayette Alabama:
Jr Olympics (Olympic type event for children)
Turkey Trot (Thanksgiving run)
Jr. Pro Basketball (Alabama State Champs & National Tournament Qualifier)

Other notable involvements:
High School Football referee
Summer Recreation Director of Fayette City Park
50-year Mason (Tennessee)
An active member of the Fayette Lions Club
A faithful member and deacon of Fayette First Baptist Church

The family would like to express appreciation to Morningview Assisted Living, dedicated care-givers Mary Williams and Rhonda Washington, Fayette Home Health Care, Hospice of West Alabama and all loyal friends.
His life was an inspiration to all that knew him.

Honorary pallbearers will be all former athletes. 

Active pallbearers will be grandsons: Hunter, Zac, Logan, and Luke Anderson, Ceaser Burgess, and Gary Whitfield.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard "Dick" Anderson, please visit our floral store.