Harlan Anderson

Harlan "Buzz" Anderson was the second nine letterman ever at Washburn excelling in football, basketball and baseball from 1957 to 1959. Buzz was a superstar before the word was invented. He played for his team and his love of the game. He played hard and with heart. And he never got hurt.

In football, Buzz played offense and defense as a halfback and was the teamÕs kicker for three years. As a senior, he co-captained the first Washburn team to win the Twin City Championship. The Millers went on to be named the 1958 Minnesota State Champions by the Star Tribune and WTCN. Buzz was selected by his teammates as the teamÕs most Valuable player (MVP); he was named to the All City Conference and All State teams; he was a Prep Star of the Week, he led the City Conference in scoring and played in the North-South All Star team during which he made the longest run of the game.

In basketball, Buzz played forward three years and was the teamÕs leading scorer as a senior.

In baseball, Buzz was a pitcher/outfielder who in his three varsity years generally pitched complete games. The 1958 Washburn baseball team was the City Conference Champion and Minnesota State Champion Runner-up. In 1959 the Millers were the City Conference Champions, the Twin City Champions and the Minnesota State Champions. Buzz was voted MVP of the State Championship game.

In summary, Buzz Anderson was a great natural athlete whose commitment and desire to be the best he could be set him apart both on and off the field. He was an unassuming leader. He was quick to give credit for his teams successes and his individual achievements to his coaches, Jack Marton and Dick Erdall in youth sports and at Washburn, Marv Helling and Russ Hellickson in football, Ray Ross in basketball, and Ross and Jim Cosgrove in baseball.

Gifted with outstanding natural ability, his practicing and desire to improve as well as his personal ethics of behavior on and off the field, set Buzz apart. He stayed true to his values and his commitments during his years at Washburn and he does to this day.