Thomas "Tom" Olin Anderson

Tom was born in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3, 1943, to Robert and Sarah Elizabeth Anderson. The youngest of three children, he lived with his family above Blacks Department store which his parents owned and operated in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Tom graduated from Louisville Male High School in 1961 and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Georgetown College in 1967. He played on the basketball team while at Georgetown. He later earned a Master’s in Education from Schreiner College in 1998. Tom also attended Baylor University and it was there that he met the love of his life, Carole.

Tom began his professional career as a chemist but found his true passion as a teacher and a coach. He began teaching Biology at Sidney Lanier High School in San Antonio in 1970 and volunteered to serve as the school’s first tennis coach. Tom later became the head coach of the boys’ basketball team in 1974. Tom’s success as coach of the Voks earned him the 1976 San Antonio Express-News boys basketball coach of the year award. Tom later became the head coach of the girls’ basketball team at Winston Churchill High School and was selected as the 1985 San Antonio Light girls’ basketball coach of the year, the only San Antonio area coach to have ever won coach of the year in both girls and boys basketball.

After retiring from coaching, Tom turned his attention to the classroom, where he taught biology and environmental science. He was always searching for new methods of teaching and believed in getting his students outside of the classroom to experience science and nature in person including taking students to Costa Rica and Mexico. Tom also developed numerous outdoor education programs for elementary and secondary students by coordinating and creating partnerships between North East Independent School District and Texas Parks and Wildlife, Guadalupe River State Park, Honey Creek State Natural Area, and John Knox Ranch. His innovative outdoor education programs garnered local and statewide recognition, leading to him being awarded the 2001 Trinity Prize for Excellence in Teaching and the 2002 Texas Excellence Award for Outstanding Teachers. He always shifted the focus away from his own accolades and ensured others knew that the reason he taught was to make a difference in students’ lives and for them to be successful.

Tom’s passion for the outdoors and commitment to serving others continued outside the classroom. He served on the Salado Creek Restoration Council and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. He also volunteered at the Friends of Guadalupe River State Park/Honey Creek State Natural Area where he served as President, at the Julia Yates Semmes Public Library, and Meals on Wheels.

Above all, his favorite times were spent with family, and he was consistently focused on bringing the family together. Our annual family vacation in July was the highlight of his year. His famous shrimp boil and key lime pies on the last night were always highly anticipated. He also loved traveling the state watching his grandkids’ activities. This brought him much joy.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Grace Earlene Fulmer, brother Bob Anderson and brother-in-law Robert I. Fulmer, M.D.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Carole; sons, Bill Anderson (Tara) of San Antonio, Bob Anderson (Sandy) of Spring, TX and Thomas Anderson (Mandy) of Coppell, TX; and sister-in-law Karen Anderson of Burlington, KY; grandchildren Preston Anderson, Courtney Wood (Zack), Paige Anderson, Kaylin Clemons (Will), Owen Anderson, Cooper Anderson, Reid Anderson, Carole Beth Anderson and Thomas (“Tripp”) Olin Anderson, III.

A celebration of life service for Tom is planned for July 30, 2023 at 2:00pm at Porter Loring Mortuary North, 2102 N Loop 1604 E, San Antonio, Texas 78232. All are invited to attend the service and reception immediately following.

People wishing to honor Tom’s lifelong commitment to education and preserving the environment for future generations can make donations to the Friends of Guadalupe River State Park and Honey Creek State Natural Area at www.friendsofgrhc.org