America's Horse, February 12, 2008 -- AQHA Past President Glenn F. “Jack” Anderson Jr. died February 10, 2008, at home in his sleep of heart failure. He was 83.
Born May 26, 1924, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Anderson was the only son of Glenn and Luella Anderson. He earned a football scholarship to Missouri University but enlisted in the Naval Air Force and flew Corsairs off aircraft carriers in the South Pacific during World War II. He received a bachelor of arts in political science from Westminster College, where he was president of the student body and earned an internship to American University in Washington, D.C.
Jack married Genelle Martin and spent the rest of his life in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. He worked in the oil business, traded in real estate and was a rancher. On his Bent Arrow Ranch, he raised champion palominos and giant homing pigeons. He was president of the American Quarter Horse Association, the Palomino Horse Breeders of America and the American Giant Homer Association. Anderson is in the Hall of Fame for all three organizations. He also served as the chair of the board of trustees for the American Horse Council and as president of the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association and the Oklahoma Palomino Association. Anderson was elected to the AQHA Board of Directors in 1971 and served on the public information committee. He also served as the chair of the youth activities committee and was instrumental in getting the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Show, then known as the Youth Finals, to move to Tulsa. He served as president of the Association in 1983.
His wife Genelle died in 1993. A few years later, he rediscovered his former high school sweetheart, Lynn Bowen Mensch, at their 55th high school reunion, and they were married in November 1997.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his two older sisters, Dorothy and Harriet; his grandson David; and his wife Genelle.
Anderson is survived by his wife Lynn; two sons, Andy and George; his daughter, Becky Mitchell; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be noon – 9 p.m. February 12 at Ninde Woodland Funeral Home, 57th and South Memorial in Tulsa. Family visitation will be 7-9 p.m. A private family funeral will be Wednesday, February 13.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the American Quarter Horse Foundation, P.O. Box 200, Amarillo, TX 79168 or St. Francis Hospice, 6161 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136.
Sympathy cards can be sent to:
Family of Jack Anderson
13024 E 111th St.
Broken Arrow, OK 74103
