Roland "Andy" Bennett Anderson

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(October 23, 1913 – December 9, 2010) was an American retired major general, who served as the 7th mayor of Naples, Florida from 1978 until 1982.

Biography

Military career

Anderson was born on October 23, 1913. He initially attended the University of Oklahoma. However, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1938. He served during World War II as an ordnance staff officer for the U.S.

anti-aircraft Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...

command in the

Pacific theater The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

. Anderson later joined the Pentagon's Chief of Ordnance office following the end of World War II. This included a position in Peru. Anderson was promoted to Assistant Chief of Staff G-4 for the U.S. Army Logistics Command based in Europe. He oversaw the acquisition and maintenance of all weapons used by the United States Army in Europe at the time. He was further promoted to Director of Army Procuremen upon his return to the United States, a position he held until his retirement from the U.S. Army as a Major General. He was the recipient of several honors during his career, including the Purple Heart, the

Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action * Distinguishe ...

, the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

and the Order of British Empire.

Political career

Anderson moved to Naples, Florida, in 1971 upon his retirement from the U.S. Army. He entered local politics and was elected to both the District School Board of Collier County and Naples City Council. He served as the 7th Mayor of Naples from 1978 until 1982. Andy Anderson died on December 9, 2010 at the age of 97. He was survived by his girlfriend, Lee Craft; three children - Audrey Joan Anderson, Roland Bruce Anderson and Gene Cristina Anderson; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. His wife, Gene Cox Anderson, died in 1999. The couple had been married for fifty-five years.

References

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172426301 {{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Andy 1913 births 2010 deaths Mayors of places in Florida United States Army personnel of World War II United States Military Academy alumni Recipients of the Legion of Merit People from Naples, Florida United States Army War College alumni