Seattle Pacific University Athletics

He took a roundabout path from nearby Lincoln High. But on the court, Orville Anderson played a direct brand of basketball.

A veteran of three years in the Air Force, Anderson arrived on the Seattle Pacific campus as a 23-year-old freshman in 1955. For two seasons, he formed a partnership with another Falcon Legend and namesake, Loren Anderson.

A strong rebounder, Orville gave the Falcons a presence on the boards and often deftly finished his teammates’ misses with tips and follows. After Loren Anderson left, Orv truly came into his own. The Falcons improved by five wins, and his contributions can not be understated.

Be it by hook or by set shot, Anderson scored at will. He tallied 38 points in back-to-back games, and averaged 23.2 points and 11.8 rebounds.

Those and other numbers have stood the test of time. No one has surpassed his 25 rebounds in a single game, and Anderson remains among the top five in season and career rebounding. He also remains among the top 10 in scoring. Furthermore, Anderson was the first Falcon to merit national attention, earning All-American honorable mention.

That might pale in comparison to the impact he made in 32 years as an educator and coach at local schools, where he was known for his generosity and kindness, especially to youth. Anderson passed away on June 24, 2005.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS (1956-59)

• Honorable mention All-American.

• Falcon single-game rebounding record holder.

• No. 4 in career rebounds, No. 8 in career scoring for Seattle Pacific.