When James S. Anderson quit Austin High School to join the military, he thought he might not come back. But swimming brought him back to the Packers and now he’ll be inducted into the hall of fame Friday.

After two years of service, Anderson met with his head coach Evar Silvernagle and he came back to AHS in 1947 for his senior year.

“I just loved that man and he convinced me to go back to school,” Anderson said.

Anderson broke five AHS pool records and he won the individual 50-freestyle, the 100-freestyle and was on the first place 200-freestyle relay team. He continued to swim at the University of Oregon.

Anderson still lives in Oregon, but he is planning on coming back to Austin on Friday. He remembers the simple things about growing up in town.

“I remember mowing my neighbors lawn and shoveling their sidewalk in the winter and I remember having to take piano lessons during school,” Anderson said.

Anderson has been married to his wife Greta for 63 years. The couple raised five children.

The Herald will run stories on all six Austin High School Hall of Fame inductees this week. AHS will hold its induction Friday during the Packers’ girls basketball game against Rochester Century.