Donald Stuart Anderson

Coach Donald S. Anderson went to be with the Lord on November 28, 2020 at the age of 89. An Eagle Scout who valued integrity above all, Don influenced many high school student athletes and coaches as well as high school athletic programs throughout El Paso. The son of a Customs Agent, Don was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1931 and spent much of his early life in the North, but moved during his junior year to El Paso where he attended El Paso High School. Don not only graduated from his EPHS Class of ’49 as its Salutatorian, he also excelled athletically, finishing 1st in the City and Region in the Shot Put and 2nd in the 1949 Texas High School State Track and Field Championships. A standout offensive lineman at EPHS, he was recruited by, and played football for, the University of New Mexico Lobos. At UNM, he was Sophomore Class President and a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. In 1952 he married Sondra Lee Brown and they would remain married for over 45 years. In 1954 he graduated from UNM and was then drafted into the US Army, serving at Fort Bliss as an Air Defense Artilleryman in the Skysweeper System. While at Fort Bliss he also played on the Post’s Football Team which played nationally. After the Army he was employed by the El Paso Independent School District for over 34 years where he served as a biology and math teacher, Head Track, Head Cross Country, and Head Football Coach at El Paso Technical High School (Tech), Head Football Coach at Jefferson High School, Assistant Principal at Morehead Middle School, and Athletics Consultant with EPISD. At El Paso Tech, Don’s Cross-Country Teams won back-to-back Texas State Cross Country Championships in 1967 and 1968. In semi-retirement he helped organize the now famous Bowie Wrestling Tournament to include forming the Girls portion of the tournament. Don also graduated from UTEP with a Masters of Education in Secondary Administration and was a member of Tobin Park United Methodist Church. An adventurer, Don would take the family on annual camping trips to historic locations and/or great fishing spots. He and Sonny also loved taking trips to Vegas and, in retirement, enjoyed taking cruises around the world. Don was also a voracious reader and hobbyist who enjoyed collecting stamps, coins, model trains, and working in his garden. His other passion was donating to numerous charitable causes. Don was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sondra Lee Anderson; father, Leroy H. Anderson; mother, Ida Anderson, and sister, Barbara (Anderson) Knudson. He is survived by his daughter, Judy (m. Mario) Campos; son, William H. Anderson; son, Robert B. Anderson (m. Adriana); four grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Our Dad always loved us and we loved him; he will be greatly missed. Due to the current situation, interment at Ft Bliss Cemetery will be a small private ceremony. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Hospice El Paso.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Anderson family.