Bobby Anderson quarterbacked Boulder High to its second of three state titles in school history 48 years ago this fall.
On Friday, the Colorado High School Activities Association recognized the former Panther great’s achievements by naming him to the organization’s 23rd Hall of Fame class.
Anderson, who went on to an All-American career as a Colorado Buffalo and then a successful run in the NFL, was one of seven Centennial State legends named to CHSAA’s hall class of 2011, a list that also includes Cherry Creek baseball coach Marc Johnson.
The 2011 class will be inducted during a banquet on Jan. 18 at the Red Lion Hotel Denver Southeast (tickets $45 through CHSAA).
Anderson graduated from BHS in 1966, having lettered in football, basketball and baseball. After succeeding another CHSAA Hall of Famer, Hale Irwin, at quarterback his sophomore year, he guided the Panthers to an 18-0 win over Pueblo Centennial in the AAA state championship game.
The Denver Post Gold Helmet Award winner as a senior, Anderson was drafted to play baseball by the Houston Astros but opted for football instead.
He was an All-American honorable mention quarterback as a sophomore before taking consensus All-American honors in 1969 as a tailback.
A first-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos, he played five seasons for the team.
He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame (2006), the CU Sports Hall of Fame (2006), the Big Eight Conference Hall of Fame (1980) and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (1982).
Others in CHSAA’s 2011 class include:
–Johnson, who has won seven state titles as baseball coach of the Bruins, not to mention five in boys soccer;
–Former Manitou Springs three-sport standout Justin Armour;
–Former Kent Denver field hockey coach and Jefferson County Public Schools administrator Christine Bullard;
–Football, basketball and baseball official George Demetriou;
–Twins Kristen and Cari Jensen, who were three-sport stars and co-valedictorians at Fowler High School;
The new inductees will join a list of 149 members that includes locally-prominent names like Bob Bledsoe, Carol Callan, Irv Brown, Melody Fairchild, Hale Irwin, Scott Stocker, Byron White, John Stearns and Joe Romig, among others.
