Knox College Athletics

Robert Anderson, originally of Princeton, Illinois, graduated from Knox College in 1954.  While at Knox College, he distinguished himself as both an outstanding and a versatile athlete.  In this day of athletic specialization, Anderson’s achievement in lettering in three sports is an achievement.
 
Anderson competed in football, swimming, and track at Knox.  He earned varsity letters in football and swimming all four years.  He earned a varsity letter in track as a senior.  While he indeed was a versatile athlete, he left his greatest mark as a swimmer.
      
Robert Anderson’s achievement as a swimmer may someday be equaled by another athlete in some individual sport, but no athlete has yet bettered Anderson’s achievement.  He was undefeated in four years of swimming competition, never losing a single race during his years as a Knox swimmer.
   
Not only did he beat every opponent against whom he raced during his four years, he was better than anyone who had ever swam his events in the history of the Midwest Conference.  Upon his graduation, he held the Midwest Conference records in each of the events in which he competed.  He was not only a great athlete but his teammates recognized his leadership by selecting him as captain in his junior and senior years.
 Anderson married Jean Louise Kester, also a Knox student.  Retired and living in Naperville, he was a pharmacist and manager of Kester Drugs.