Distinguished Alumni
Walter J. Anderson
Awarded 2011
Walt Anderson was born in Florida and grew up in Channelview, Texas. He was quarterback of his high school’s football team, under the direction of his father, who was the head coach of the Falcons.
As a Bearkat football player at SHSU, Anderson was All-Conference in 1972, Academic All-America in 1972 and ’73, and a four-year letterman. After he graduated in 1974 with a degree in biology, he enrolled in the University of Texas Dental Branch where he received his Doctorate of Dentistry in 1978.
He settled in Sugar Land and practiced dentistry for 25 years, owning one of the largest dental practices in the Houston area.
He soon realized that football had been too much a part of his life to step away from it completely, and on the advice of his father, began looking into officiating as a way to stay connected to the game he loved.
He started out working little league, junior high and then high school games. He later moved to the college conferences—Southwest, Southland and Lone Star—and has even officiated some Sam Houston State University games. He has served as coordinator of football officials for the Big 12 Conference since 2006.
While at the college level, Anderson was scouted by ex-NFL officials who were looking to fill openings at the professional football level. He joined the league in 1996, and since then he has worked playoff games in every year of eligibility. He has officiated two Super Bowls—Super Bowl XXXV in 2000, where he was a line judge, and Super Bowl XLV in 2011, where he served as the head of officials.
Anderson and his wife, Afshan, live in Sugar Land and are the parents of five children.