Jerry Orlanda Anderson (1953-1989) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Jerry Orlanda Anderson

Born 27 Oct 1953 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Son of James Lincoln Butler and Jimmie Estella (Anderson) Brandon

[sibling(s) unknown]

[spouse(s) unknown]

[children unknown]

Died 27 May 1989 at age 35 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee, United States

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Biography

Jerry Anderson is Notable.

Jerry Anderson was a professional football player who saved two people from drowning in the 1984 Tulsa, Oklahoma flood then lost his life while saving two boys from drowning in Stones River, exactly five years later.^[1]

Jerry Anderson was born in 1953. He was the son of James Butler and Jimmie Anderson.

After graduating from Central High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1972, Jerry signed to play football at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. Jerry transferred his Junior year to Oklahoma and played only a season and a half before struggling with injuries in 1976.^[2] As a Sooner, Jerry earned a reputation as a strong cornerback on the Sooner's 1975 national champion team. Jerry was a captain in 1976.

From “Tales from the Sooner Sidelines”:

Defensive back Jerry Anderson was considered by many to be the toughest, meanest player to ever wear an Oklahoma uniform. He lit up opposing receivers with forearms and vicious hits, and he did it playing on basically one knee. During his senior season in 1976, an examination determined that Anderson's anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee had deteriorated beyond repair. Despite playing in much pain, Anderson completed the season without missing a beat, according to assistant coach Bobby Proctor. "He was unbelievably tough. That's what made him so good," said Proctor.^[3]

On May 27, 1984, he rescued some trapped motorists from floodwaters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jerry pulled two people from Dirty Butter Creek ^[4] while he felt guilty that he was unable to save a third person, Bridgette Johnson, from a submerged car.

Exactly five years later, on May 27, 1989, in his hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, he took Dwight Ogleton, Jr. and another boy fishing on the Stones River, which had been bloated by heavy rains. Brad Logsdon and Josh "Pooh" McFarland remembers seeing Jerry Anderson on Stones River while searching for a fishing spot in the back of police Lt. Johnny Mosby's house. The boys tried to cross several dams and the location they picked, he was present. Logsdon felt he was placed there to save them. The boys were fishing on the dam when they were overtaken by the water. McFarland fell in. Logsdon extended a hand to grab McFarland and he then fell in too. Lt. Johnny Mosby called in from his home and reported that there was a man drowning behind his house at 231 South Church Street. Anderson rescued both boys then went under two or three times and eventually disappeared.

Sgt. Dale Robinson arrived first at the scene and witnessed Mosby with a life jacket on entering the river. Robinson wrapped his strap of his life jacket around his hand and followed suit. There was a big whirlpool and it was hard fighting the current. He was constantly being taken downstream. Someone with a canoe came and kept bringing Robinson back but he started to struggle and went under three or four times. He says he thought to himself I can not do this much longer and all of a sudden Robinson felt something against his foot and reached in the water and pulled up Jerry by his wrist getting his head above the water. Anderson was taken by ambulance to Middle Tennessee Medical Center (now Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital), where he was pronounced dead.

Jerry was buried June 3, 1989, at Green Acres Memorial Gardens in Oklahoma. ^[5] ^[6]

———

Murfreesboro’s Jerry Anderson – a local hero. People Places and Stories Frank Caperton, President Rutherford County Historical Society ^[7]

Photos of Jerry Anderson, who lost his life in 1989 trying to save two young boys from drowning in Stones River. Since 1990, awards have been given out to community heroes and humanitarians in his honor. CAT MURPHY Jan 22, 2018 Updated Jan 22, 2018 ^[8]

True hero's gift of life remembered ^[9]

Gone To Soon. ^[10]

Rescue 911-double football player. ^[11]

A TRAGIC TALE OF INCREDIBLE HEROISM ^[12]

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Hall of Fame ^[13]