Dr. R.L. Anderson
Dr. R.L. "Andy" Anderson made his mark in Mercer County at Thiel College as an athlete, and later as a coach and top-notch referee.
He began his career at Coudersport (Pa.) High, where he shined as aleague all-star in both football and basketball. He helped lead the basketball team to the 1952 Class C state final game.
At Thiel College, Greenville, he earned four letters in both football and basketball. In football he was a tri-captain and earned Presidents' Athletic Conference second-team honors. In basketball, he was a co-captain, then served two seasons as captain of the Tomcats. He was the top rebounder in the PAC in 1958-59, averaging 16.8 per game. He won second-team All-PAC laurels.
He won the Best Student-Male Athlete Award and was later inducted into the Thiel College Hall of Fame. He still ranks high in the Thiel record books with: career points (1,149), career field goals (445) and career rebounds (869). He is still No. 1 at Thiel in season rebounds (322) and single-game rebounds (38), both set in 1958-59 season.
Andy played basketball in the Navy, later returning to Mercer County as a teacher, coach and later principal at Hickory High. He was an assistant coach with the 1961 Hickory state runner-up team and coached in the elementary program. He also coached track and served as athletic director. He coached sixth-grade basketball at Sharpsville.
He played Shenango Valley independent basketball and played in the Shenango Valley Church Softball League. He played over-30 basketball at the F.H. Buhl Club and Shenango Valley YMCA.
As a PIAA official in both football and basketball, he was highly regarded and worked state Class AAAA football championship games as well as several district and western regional final games. He served as Mercer County Athletic Conference basketball commissioner and was also tournament director for the District 10 Gymnastics Championships.