Athletics: Coaches group picks Anderson as Landry recipient

The list of names is a who's who of Texas high school football coaches.

From Charlie Johnston to Jack Murphy to G.A. Moore to D.W. Rutledge, the winners of the Texas High School Coaches Association's Tom Landry Award are some of the most revered coaches in the state.

Henry Anderson never has been a head football coach, so he doesn't have a gaudy coaching record or a stadium named after him.

Still, Anderson is being recognized for what he has done for West Texas athletes in the last 25 years.

The Crane track and field coach and assistant football coach has been chosen to receive the Tom Landry Award and will be honored May 3 and inducted into the coaches association's Hall of Honor.

"I was very surprised to win it," Anderson said. "You can't be successful by yourself. I have to pay tribute to the coaches I have coached with and all the kids. We've had good runs. I've just been fortunate to be with great programs."

Anderson was on the staff at Iraan when the Braves won a Class 2A state football title in 1996.

He was on a staff at Rankin that reached the state finals in 1980 with current Crane athletics director Naldo Esparza as a running back.

Anderson has been a part of one losing season in his 25 years as an assistant football coach. That was a 4-6 mark at Rankin with a team decimated by injuries.

"He is one of those coaches who makes you want to compete," Esparza said. "He always made you look forward to come to practice and school every day. I look forward to coming to work every day because of him."

Anderson's ability to draw in coaches and athletes is one of the reasons that he has been such a successful coach.

"He demands nothing but the best of himself and of the kids, too," former Iraan football coach Larry Hanna said. "Henry was always a constant force down there (in Iraan). Coaches came and went, but Henry was there. He established himself in Rankin. It would have been difficult to accomplish what we did if he wasn't there. He was a big part."

Anderson was a big part of the lives of athletes and coaches.

Esparza and Alpine coach Shad Hanna credit Anderson with helping them advance their coaching careers.

"Anytime I have questions about anything, I call him," Hanna said. "He is a mentor for a lot of coaches. Henry likes to joke around and horse around and that makes him fun, but when you have a question he won't make fun of you. He is willing to help. He is a real easy guy to call and get help when you have questions about things."

Anderson began his coaching career at Marble Falls in 1974 but moved the next year to Rankin, where he coached for eight years. He credits former track and field coach Willie Myers with teaching him everything he knows.

After eight years in Rankin, he went to Iraan and coached the Braves from 1983-2002, when he moved to Crane with Randy Doege.

"When I first started working with him in 1988, it didn't take me long to realize he had a special gift," said Ted Sellers, the Iraan girls track and field coach. "He loves working with kids and teaching kids. He does a great job in the classroom as well as on the athletic field. He's just a special person."

That might be the biggest reason why Anderson won the award.

THE BASICS

>> Who: Henry Anderson.

>> Family: Nell, married for 34 years; daughter Ashley; grandson Brayson.

>> High School: McCamey, 1969.

>> Coaching stops: Marble Falls, 1974; Rankin, 1975-1983; Iraan, 1983-2002; Crane, 2002-present.

AND THE WINNERS ARE ...

Winners of the Tom Landry Award presented by Texas High School Coaches Association, with year, recipient and school
Year Recipient School

2008 Henry Anderson Crane
2007 Tim Teykl Rosenburg Terry
2006 Charles Copeland Brownwood
2005 Andy Griffin Troup
2004 Hugh Sandifer Abilene Wylie
2003 Jim Streety San Antonio Madison
2002 Bobby Davis Wolfforth Frenship
2001 G.A. Moore Jr. Celina
2000 D.W. Rutledge Converse Judson
1999 Mike Honeycutt San Antonio MacArthur
1998 Lynn Etheredge Tomball, and Jack Murphy Gladewater
1997 Bob Shelton Hays Consolidated
1996 Neal Quillin Humble
1995 Gaylard Fenley San Antonio Alamo Heights
1994 Ray Overton Irving MacArthur
1993 Larry Dippel Amarillo High
1992 Jim Slaughter Corpus Christi Carroll
1991 Buzzy Kieth Pasadena Dobie
1990 Charlie Johnson Childress