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Congressional Daily Record
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September 30, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMrs. BRITT. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the impactful and inspirational life of an Alabama legend, Charles Anderson. An entrepreneur, philanthropist, husband, grandfather, and great- grandfather, Charles will be remembered by his relentless drive, extreme generosity, and unwavering humility.
and hard work. Born in Florence, AL, Charles was the first of Clyde W. and Ruth Keenum's three children. He developed his entrepreneurial spirit by helping at his father's local newsstand, eventually picking up his own newspaper route. By age 11, Charles had started his own business, a roadside fireworks stand, and by age 14, he was
alongside his father. He was a star athlete, leader, and student. During his time at Coffee High School, he earned various accolades, including recognition as the youngest football player ever selected to the First Team All Tri-Cities Football squad and the All-Tennessee Valley Conference squad, cocaptain of the football team, and, to no one's surprise, was even named a senior class favorite at Coffee High School. His whole class looked up to him, a trend that would follow Charles wherever he went.
economics from Florence State Teachers College, now the University of North Alabama, Charles joined the family business full-time. Just as he had done as a child, Charles dreamed big, worked tirelessly, and trusted his vision. Soon, that family business had turned into a wide- ranging network of successful enterprises, including Anderson Media, Anderson Press, Books-A-Million, and TNT Fireworks. And in 1987, Charles became the chairman of ANCO Management Services, eventually becoming chairman emeritus and providing mentorship and oversight to his beloved family-founded enterprises.
service to the community that helped fuel his success. He gave his time and expertise freely, serving in multiple board capacities, including the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Heritage Trust Fund, the First National Bank of Florence (now Truist), the Alabama Kidney Foundation of Alabama, the Salvation Army of the Shoals, the Shoals Economic Development Authority Board, and for nearly a decade, he was the executive chairman of the board of First Southern Bank. In 2026, Charles received the prestigious Life Membership award from the Salvation Army for his unwavering commitment to the organization. He was a valued and dedicated member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where his life was celebrated by the many who knew and loved him.
from educational institutions and libraries to hospitals and medical research facilities. He was the benefactor of several scholarships, including the Clyde W. Anderson Scholarship at the University of North Alabama, named for his father, and a business scholarship at the University of Alabama. Proof of his generosity is scattered throughout our State—whether at the University of Northern Alabama's Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions and Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium, the University of Tennessee's Anderson Athletic Training Center and Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, or at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center's Hilda B. Anderson Endowed Chair in Nephrology. The Charles and Hilda Anderson Foundation and the Anderson Foundation both gave abundantly to the causes of literacy, education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and expansion of opportunity. His philanthropy showcased his spirit of giving, but Charles never asked to be recognized for his generosity; he gave only because he believed that blessings ought to be shared. The Anderson family creed truly exemplifies Charles' ethos: “There is no limit to what you can accomplish if you don't care who gets the credit.”
State can be seen through several honors in his namesake. He was inducted into multiple prestigious associations, including the Alabama Business Hall of Fame, the Alabama Academy of Honor, and the Horatio Alger Association. Charles was named the 1979 University of North Alabama Alumni of the Year, the 2016 Shoals Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, listed as one of the 2021 Most Influential People in Numismatics by Coin World Magazine, named an honorary life fellow of the American Numismatic Society, and named the 2024 Numismatist of the Century by COINage Magazine. In 2016, he was a Walk of Honor inductee, selected for his national and international acclaim among individuals in Florence and Lauderdale Counties. In 2018, the University of North Alabama awarded him an honorary doctorate degree recognizing his extraordinary achievements and his commitment to excellence. In 2025, Charles was honored by Business Alabama as one of five recipients of the Business Alabama Lifetime Achievement Award.
spirit, kindness, and leadership that Charles exhibited each and every day. His family, friends, and each person who was fortunate enough to know him were witnesses to his extraordinary life of philanthropy, leadership, lifelong knowledge, and a deep love for his loved ones. His legacy will last for generations to come and touch the lives of so many.
and has been a pillar of Alabama for decades. From a simple roadside newspaper stand—built from piano boxes and manned by a father and his 5-year-old son—to a global success story with tens of thousands impacted by his generosity and leadership, Charles Anderson lived a life worth sharing, which I am humbled to amplify in this body. Along with his loved ones, the Florence community, and our entire State, I am honored to celebrate him here today.