Longtime Gamecocks supporter, philanthropist Dodie Anderson dies at age 92
Longtime supporter of South Carolina athletics and philanthropist Dolores “Dodie” Anderson died Wednesday at age 92.
According to her obituary, she is survived by five daughters, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was born in Forest Park, Illinois in 1928.
Her giving to the University of South Carolina helped fund the athletic academic center, which bears her name and is often called simply “The Dodie.” She also made notable donations to USC Upstate, having given the largest single gift in that athletic department’s history, and also gave to Greenville Technical College.
“We lost a Great Gamecock in Ms Dodie Anderson,” USC football coach Will Muschamp said via Twitter. “She did so much for all of us here at South Carolina. You will be missed.”
She was awarded the The Order of the Palmetto by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster in 2019.
Anderson founded a Clinton hardwood flooring company with her late husband, Bob, that later sold for millions. According to a 2010 story from The State, then-athletic director Eric Hyman about a donation and her first question was, “What does (football coach) Steve (Spurrier) want?”
The result was the academic center, a two-year project.
“I was at the (2008) groundbreaking and had my picture made with the (SEC-champion) girls soccer team,” she said. “That was fun. I just love the Gamecocks.”
She also supported the Girl Scouts and Greenville Humane Society.
After her obituary was published, former South Carolina coach Shawn Elliott took to social media to pay respects.
“Dodie Anderson was a wonderful and gracious woman,” Elliott said. “She exemplified the spirit of what being a Gamecock was all about. Forever to You Dodie!”
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 10:26 PM.
