[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 19 (Tuesday, February 2, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E89-E90]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF COACH C.D. ``LEFTY'' ANDERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRADLEY BYRNE

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 2016

  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life of Coach 
C.D. ``Lefty'' Anderson, a beloved long-time football coach, 
administrator and family man in Mobile County, Alabama.
   Coach Anderson was born on July 17, 1929 in Coffeeville, Alabama. He 
attended and played football at Jackson High School and Livingston 
State, where his love of football began. After college, he served a 
two-year stint in the Army and then later went on to become head 
football coach at Frisco City in Monroe County, Alabama.
   After being named the head coach, Coach Anderson immediately began 
to instill the belief in his players that they were winners. During his 
time at Frisco City, Coach Anderson accumulated a total of 53 wins, 
beating teams much larger than his.
   In 1963, he became the head coach at Murphy High School, which was 
one of the state's largest schools. At Murphy, he did what he was 
accustomed to . . . he won football games. In his first year, he led 
his Panther team to an 8-1 season, a major improvement from the five 
combined wins the school had in the three years prior. He would go on 
to win 32 games during his six-year tenure as head coach, before making 
the move to an administrative role at the school.
   Coach Anderson would go on to serve a year as the school's assistant 
principal and 10 more years as principal. I've heard that Coach 
Anderson took the same hard-nosed approach he had as a coach and 
applied it to his role as principal. He ensured that his students 
followed the rules and behaved properly, but just like his players, 
there was never any doubt how much he cared for them.
   After his time as an administrator, Coach Anderson served as the 
Mobile County athletic director for eight years until his retirement in 
the early 1990s. He also served 13 years on the Alabama High School 
Athletic Association's (AHSAA) Central Board of Control, including two 
years as president.
   Outside of the classroom, Coach Anderson played a vital role in the 
development of high school football throughout the state. Anderson was 
instrumental in the creation of the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star 
Football game in 1998. Due to his contribution and dedication to the 
game, the MVP award was named after him. He later achieved the honor of 
becoming

[[Page E90]]

part of the first class inducted into the AHSAA High School Hall of 
Fame in 1991.
   Although retired, Coach Anderson's love and knowledge of the game 
continued to shine. He was always willing to help mentor anyone who 
sought his knowledge about the game.
   During the last 5 years of his life Coach Anderson fought valiantly 
against Alzheimer's, never letting it inhibit his view on life. Sadly, 
on January 21, Coach Anderson passed away after a battle with 
pneumonia.
   Coach Eddie Robinson put it best when he said that ``coaching is a 
profession of love. You can't coach people unless you love them.'' I 
believe this was always the mindset of Coach Anderson. He always cared 
deeply for his players and students.
   Coach Anderson leaves behind a legacy of love and humility and his 
spirit will live on in the countless individuals he impacted over the 
course of his career. The city of Mobile, Mobile County, and the entire 
State of Alabama will be forever grateful for the life and service of 
Coach ``Lefty'' Anderson. On behalf of Alabama's entire First 
Congressional District, we extend our greatest of condolences to his 
son Chuck, his two grandchildren, Laura and Sam, as well as his two 
great-grandchildren, Ayden and Caroline. Coach Anderson will be deeply 
missed.

                          ____________________