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William A. "Tony" Anderson was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, February 4, 1916. He began his musical career playing cornet. He graduated from Picher-Cardin High School and continued his education at Northeastern State University where he graduated in 1938. From 1938-1941, he enjoyed his first teaching position as band director at Maud, Oklahoma. In 1942, Tony entered the Army and rose to the rank of 1st Lt. in the field artillery while serving in the European theatre. At the end of World War II, he returned to Oklahoma and finished a Master of Music Education at Oklahoma University.

Tony became the bandmaster at Henryetta, Oklahoma in 1946. This was the start of seventeen years of honors for the Henryetta band. They were the first Oklahoma band to perform in the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California; Oklahoma Honor Band in 1957; marched the Kennedy Inauguration in 1961; and selected Outstanding Band at Tri-State Music Festival, Enid, Oklahoma, in 1961. The Henryetta band also won the Oklahoma University Band Day competition 13 out of 17 years.

In 1963, Midland, Texas called and Tony began a distinguished career in the Lone Star State winning eleven Sweepstakes at Midland, Abilene, and North Mesquite. His 1967 Midland High School Band was named the Outstanding Band at the Buccaneer Days Festival in Corpus Christi.

Tony Anderson was named Bandmaster of the Year by T.B.A. in 1981, and was selected to the Oklahoma Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 1986. He has been an inspiration to many young teachers in Texas and Oklahoma throughout his 32 year teaching career. His musical skills are surpassed only by his people skills. Truly a product of the Southwest, he has given his great love for music to the succeeding generations in Maud, Henryetta, Midland, Abilene, and Mesquite.