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In a different era, they were called the "60-Minute Men," those players who played every down of a football game. Such a player was the late Dave Anderson of Los Gatos High School.
And Anderson performed the impressive fete as the highest level of play for his time—
in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Anderson played for UC Berkeley in its 1935 Rose Bowl win over Alabama, capping a sensational career as a three-sport athlete for the Golden Bears. Before that, he was an outstanding three-sport athlete for the Wildcats.
For his outstanding achievements while attending Los Gatos High School, Dave Anderson will be among the first 14 athletes recognized with induction into the newly created Athletic Hall of Fame at the high school during ceremonies to be held May 1 at the La Rinconada Country Club. Anderson, who died in 1997, is one of two athletes who will receive a posthumous award.
Anderson graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1935. As a Wildcat, he played football and basketball and ran track for the famous Los Gatos coach Doug Helm, the man for whom the football field and basketball gymnasium are named.
According to Anderson's son, David Jr., his father also dated Olivia de Havilland during his high school years. De Havilland would become an Academy Award-winning actress who gain worldwide acclaim as Melanie in the film classic, Gone With the Wind.
Anderson went on to star on the gridiron at UC Berkeley. While he also ran track and played a year of rugby, it would be on the football field where he would gain his fame.
His two favorite memories of his collegiate football career, says his son, were playing all 60 minutes in Cal's last Rose Bowl win, a 13-0 victory over Alabama in 1938, and being a member of the only class to never be scored up by rival Stanford.
Anderson—
nicknamed "Andy" and "The Swede" by his teammates—
was the starting fullback on the Cal offensive unit, but he played the entire game since unlimited substitution had not yet been implemented in college football. Starters frequently played the entire game on both offense and defense, thus the term "60-Minute Men."
Anderson was selected as a Helms All-American in 1937 and '38 and played in both the East-West Game and the College All-Star Game. He graduated from Cal in 1939 and later earned his master's degree at USC in 1975.
Anderson went on to a successful military career from 194067, earning the Legion of Merit award in 1966. He retired as a U.S. Army colonel, settling in Santa Barbara with his wife, Mildred. The couple had three children, David Jr., Melissa and Jed.
Still, despite all of the accomplishments in his life, Anderson would always recall fondly his years as one of the "60-Minute Men"—
and now his high school recognizes him for his achievements from a bygone era.
Los Gatos High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will on May 1 at the La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos. Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner are priced at $75, and those attending the dinner will have the opportunity to nominate former Los Gatos athletes for induction in 2005. For ticket information, call the Los Gatos Athletic Association at 408.395.2002, Doug Ramezane at 408.354.2730, ext. 213, or Mark Magagna at 408.354.2730, ext. 320.
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