James Anderson of Fifty Lakes and Fountain Hills, Ariz., received the Distinguished Citizen Award from Macalester College. Anderson graduated from Macalester in 1966.
The Distinguished Citizen Award recognizes alumni who have exercised leadership in civic, social, religious and professional activities. Recipients demonstrate a practical acceptance of these obligations in their lives and work.
Anderson was a two-time national champion and four-time All-American swimmer. Other highlights include his work as a residence counselor and a Student Work Abroad Project trip to Berlin. He met his wife, Barbara (Bobbi) Rudberg in 1967 at college.
"Of all my experiences, Macalester always stands out in terms of reinforcing values and attitudes that have guided my life," Anderson said in a news release.
He completed a master's degree in health care administration at the University of Minnesota. Anderson worked at a hospital that merged with Mayo Clinic, which resulted in a 40-year career at the Mayo Clinic that paralleled the organization's growth. He helped create and develop Mayo's nationwide network of hospitals and clinics, including in Arizona, where he retired as chief administrative officer.
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In retirement, the couple takes frequent trips to visit and support the families of their four children. At the University of Minnesota, Anderson still serves on the Board of Medical Overseers and recently concluded a term as the School of Public Health's alumni board chair. Macalester College, founded in 1874, is a national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 2,138 students.
