Though friends of Archie Edward Anderson Jr. (J.D. ’64) fondly recall his “ready sense of humor and clever wit,” future law students will benefit from one of his other qualities — his dedication to the St. Mary’s University School of Law. Anderson left an estate gift of nearly $1 million to fund scholarships for tomorrow’s legal leaders.

Archie Edward Anderson Jr. grew up in San Antonio, attending Thomas Jefferson High School from 1950 until 1953. After high school, he attended Baylor University, where he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree while working in the university bookstore. He also studied at Trinity University.

Before law school, Anderson served for six months on active duty in the U.S. Army, which took him to Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. He also worked at A&A Iron Works and as a self-employed home builder as a young man.

In 1961, Anderson began law school and lived in the Donaldson Terrace neighborhood, just north of the St. Mary’s University campus.

While attending law school, Anderson became a member of the John J. Bickett, Jr. Senate of Delta Theta Phi legal fraternity — an early example of his commitment to St. Mary’s and its law students. Considered an honor for successful students, joining this legal fraternity also came with a pledge to aid fellow law students through tutoring services.

Anderson earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Mary’s in 1964 and was licensed to practice law in Texas the same year.

He served for nine years in the U.S. Army Reserve, eventually achieving the rank of captain. He also briefly lived in Chicago but returned to his hometown to work alongside his father building homes in the City of Windcrest.

Anderson eventually moved to Houston and, though he died in June 2014 at age 78, he left an indelible legacy to assist the students of St. Mary’s Law through his estate gift. A charitable bequest of this size greatly benefits the School of Law’s scholarship endowment and will enable St. Mary’s to cultivate its finest class of law students.

For information on including St. Mary’s in your estate plans, visit our Planning Website.

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