Tex Anderson Biography Legacies Project

Spouse: Joyce Anderson
Joyce’s mother, Pearl Lira, was employed at Colorado State University in food services. Also an educator, Joyce graduated with an Associate’s degree from Trinidad State Junior College and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State College (now University of Northern Colorado). Joyce taught grades 11-12 before raising their two sons, Brett and Tod Anderson. When the boys were in high school, Joyce enrolled in an art class at CSU. She decided that art was her passion and she began a 30 year career in painting. During this time, she sold her folk art at various shops and participated in many shows.

Children:
Tod Anderson (self-employed) lives in Oceanside, California.
When Tod Anderson (’88 Industrial Science & Technology) graduated from high school, his love of airplanes led him to completing a two year program leading to his certification in airframe and power mechanics. He worked in the air industry for a few years before returning to CSU to complete a degree in Technology Education. He began his career in education in Wichita, Kansas, teaching there for three years. He then taught technology for 12 years in Durango, Colorado. While teaching in Durango, he served as president of the local teachers union. He presently lives in California where he has an on-line business and manages property that he co-owns with his brother. Tod’s son, A.J. Anderson (’14), earned a degree in chemical and biological engineering from CSU.

Brett Anderson (former Vice President for Advancement at CSU, now Special Assistant to the Chancellor) lives in Denver, Colorado.
Brett Anderson is a 1987 alumnus of the Department of Mechanical Engineering. After retiring from a business career as managing partner of global business and technology company, Accenture, Brett accepted the position of vice president for Advancement for Colorado State University. As a donor and volunteer, Brett has a long history of involvement and service at CSU, including chairing the Corporate and Foundation Relations Committee and the University’s Development Council. He served on the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Panel, receiving the Colorado State Personal Service Award and the 2004 College of Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award and establishing CSU’s Anderson Academic Training Center. In 2022 he took on the role of interim vice president for human resources. He has also been an active volunteer with the CSU Alumni Association and served on the
Campaign Leadership Council for the Campaign for Colorado State University.

Grandchildren:
Nate (Graduated from Colorado School of Mines) lives in Houston, Texas. He and his wife Cheryl have two sons, Jackson and Jace.

A.J. (Graduated from CSU in Chemical Engineering and Biological Engineering)

Great-grandchildren:
Jackson and Jace

Tex’s mother, Frances Robinson, attended Colorado Agricultural College (which later became Colorado State University) and encouraged him to pursue a degree. Tex followed her counsel, earning both his bachelor’s (’57 Vocational Agriculture) and master’s (’63 Agricultural Education) degrees from CSU. It was during his time as a senior that he was given the opportunity to teach. While he had never considered teaching as a potential profession, he found a true passion for working with students. He began teaching after graduating with his B.S. working as a Vocational Agriculture Instructor at Montezuma County High School in Cortez, Colorado from 1958-1963. It was during this time that he met and fell in love with the business teacher, Joyce.

In deciding to continue his education, Tex moved his young family with him to Ohio where he attended the Ohio State University. During his work on his Ph.D., Tex worked as an instructor in agricultural education and as a research associate for the National Center for Research in Vocational Education.

Upon graduation from the Ohio State University, Tex moved back to Colorado and became the Assistant State Supervisor for the Colorado State Board for Vocation Education. While there, he collaborated with community colleges in the area and found a passion for community college work. Tex’s wife, Joyce, also had a personal connection to this work, as she took her first two years of college at a community college. Joyce and Tex share a commitment to the value and critical role that community colleges play in educational access and affordability. During his tenure at CSU, Tex worked closely with community college presidents from across Colorado to create the Community College Administration specialization within the School of Education.

In 1966, with an invitation from R.W. Canada, Tex took a position at CSU as an Assistant Professor for the Department of Vocational Education, now the School of Education. He quickly advanced to become an Associate Professor and was also Director of the CSU Occupational Research Center from 1966-1967.

In 1973, Tex became the Head of the Department of Vocational Education, where he attained the rank of professor and remained in that position until 1983. He was an advocate for combining the Vocational Education and Education Departments together into what is now known as the School of Education. From 1986-1993, Tex was the Director of Graduate Programs for the School of Occupational and Educational Studies and later the School of Education. He finished out his final years at CSU as a Professor in charge of Community College Administration and Teacher Education until his retirement in 1998, holding the position for 15 years. Tex was a leader in vocational teacher education, making significant contributions to the field across the state and the nation. He also served as National President of three different professional and honorary societies.

Tex found that working with his many students was the most gratifying part of his time at CSU, especially when advising over 60 doctoral students and serving in the role of Director of Graduate Programs in the School of Education from 1986-1993. He is proud to be a part of his students’ success and still enjoys hearing from his former students about the differences they are making all over the world. In this spirit, the Anderson family is continuing their significant investment and commitment to educational access and success through the Tex Anderson and Family Scholarship, which supports teacher licensure students.

Since retiring, Tex has enjoyed spending time with his family and visiting his sons and their wives, grandsons, and great-grandsons. He also enjoys traveling with his wife, Joyce. For their 50th anniversary, Tex and Joyce traveled throughout Europe. The highlight of the trip was meeting some of Joyce’s extended family in Northern Italy. He enjoys tending his garden and planning a travel. He continues to manage the family farm and enjoys watching the performing arts.