Bob Anderson remembered as South Charleston’s ambassador

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A man who was a staple of celebrations and big events in South Charleston is gone.

Bob Anderson died over the weekend. Anderson who was found of saying, “every day is Christmas” headed up the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau for many years, before he retired in 2018.

“Those were the things Bob had a niche for, parades and summer festivals, he knew how to bring a crowd into town that’s for sure,” said Mayor Frank Mullens.

Mullens had known Anderson for 30 years and credited him with a lot of well established events in the city.

“I think what he’ll be remembered the most for will be Summerfest because it was his creation back in the day,” Mullens said.

Other well-known events like the Armed Forces Parade, which is the longest standing parade of its kind in America as well as renovations to the Labelle Theater were all projects in which Anderson was intricately involved.

Anderson went to work for South Charleston in 1965 as the city’s recreation director. He left in 1976 to take a job at DNR where he worked until his retirement in 1998. He then became the head of the city’s CVB until 2018 when he retired after 50 years of public service.

“For me, it’s also a friendship,” said Mullens. “I take the professionalism out and remember he was just a very good friend.”