From a 2-room country schoolhouse in rural Wisconsin, The Honorable Bob Anderson went on to earn 3 degrees at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in bacteriology. He went on to begin his teaching career at Salem College in West Virginia before moving to West Virginia University where he taught graduate courses and did research on safe-processing of home-canned foods and refrigerated food products. Off campus, he was an Extension Specialist in Environmental Education and served on several national committees in food safety and as consultant/adviser to the FDA in pharmaceutical safety and effectiveness of new premarket approval studies and as research proposal reviewer of food safety grant applications for USDA.
Earlier, after earning his MS degree in Bacteriology, Anderson was drafted into the US Army as a Private and then promoted to Second Lieutenant. He served 2 tours, one in Germany and the other at West Point, NY before resigning his active duty commission as Captain to return to civilian life and graduate school where he earned his PhD at Wisconsin. He was activated in the Army Reserves for military duty again and eventually retired as full Colonel after serving in 3 branches of service.
Following retirement from WVU as Emeritus Professor, our Honoree began writing and has just finished his 14th published work. One of his first books in 1999 was about the 2-room schoolhouse in Quiet Dell in Harrison County, WV. During interviews of former students for the book, one of them, Jim Turner, said "You should write about the CCC. They were stationed just out of our back window here in Quiet Dell."
"Written on the Land" a pictorial history of the CCC followed in 2002, and this was the year Bob was instrumental with others in starting the CCC museum in the schoolhouse. The next year he and his wife, Joanne as President and Secretary respectively organized and received the the state charter for the West Virginia State CCC Museum Association. In that year, Bob obtained tax exemption status from the IRS for the Association. A formal Board of Directors and bylaws were established by the program participants at the close of a New Deal Conference in May, 2003. This conference basically set the foundation of the museum. Dr. Anderson has continued to be a strong influence. He has served in numerous offices, doing publicity, keeping in touch with CCC Alumni, organizing the jubilee reunions, publishing the newsletter, applying for grants, and traveling far and wide educating the public as to the great legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Our Honoree commented: “Now, thanks to others who have stepped forward, the CCC camp museum and its governing association is still very strong, and has been and is being improved with more displays and extensive publicity. From the beginning there's been an active, attractive web site, thank you to web master Dr. Jerry Boling. Tireless efforts have been made by Charles Piercy, Rich Bailey and many others since I have retired from active administrative duties in the organization.” commented Dr. Anderson.
“We are so proud of Bob Anderson. He helped in a big way to light the torch, and has been instrumental in keeping the torch going in keeping the CCC Legacy alive, here in West Virginia, and across the Nation. A truly remarkable man.” stated Richard S. Bailey, CCC Hall of Fame Committee Chair.
Dr. Anderson and his wife, Johanne reside at Maple Lake, near Bridgeport. They raised two children, Scott and wife Helen, Arika, and husband Rodney, two grandchildren, Kristin and Jamison, and two great grandchildren Alexis and Brady.
Dr. Robert Anderson leads a tour of the museum complex for WVU Grad Students September 30, 2014.
Dr. Anderson at Clarksburg Harrison Cultural Foundation Grant Awards meeting 2014.
Dr. Robert E. Anderson inspects the proposed barracks located at the North Central Regional Airport, Bridgeport
in preparation for removal of the barracks to the museum campus. April 2012.
Dr. Anderson makes CCC presentation at Bridgeport Public Library in September 2015.
Dr. Anderson giving a presentation on the history of the CCC.