by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Dana Anderson — father, husband, investment executive, philanthropist, and longtime Wellington resident — joined a long list of distinguished individuals in years past to win the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award.

Sterling House was named Wellington Business of the Year and Sara Dixon, director of the Wellington Public Library was named Young Professional of the Year at the 2015 Annual Meeting hosted by the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce at Memorial Auditorium, Friday. Pictures of the event are here.

Anderson joined 50 other Wellington DSA winners (including two couples), a tradition that started when Dwight Miller won the first DSA award in 1964. 

“I was very surprised and very humbled,” Anderson said afterwards. “It is indeed an honor to receive this award.”

He was joined by his friends and family after receiving a standing ovation by those in attendance. As always, the DSA award included a 15-minute video presentation.

Anderson is currently executive of the LPL Financial Services executive of the Wellington branch at Impact Bank. He has held that position for 16 years. He switched three months ago from Cetera Investments.

Anderson was born in Wakefield, Kansas, west of Manhattan. He moved with Don and Phyllis Anderson in 1964 as a first grader after his dad took the job as Wellington Farmer’s Coop Manager.

He grew up in Wellington, and was an all-league middle linebacker for the Crusader football team. He graduated in 1976 and would play football at Butler County Community College. As a junior he would transfer to Kansas State and received a degree in Agriculture Economics in 1981.

Anderson would return to Wellington where he would work at the Co-op for 13 years. He eventually became co-manager, before changing professions and becoming running a Shelter Insurance office on W. Harvey.

Eventually, he left to become an investment advisor at Impact Bank, formerly known as First National Bank of Wellington.

Perhaps, Anderson’s greatest years of service included 12 years on the Wellington Public Library board, eight years on the Wellington Airport Authority, six years on the Memorial Auditorium Board, four years on the Planning Commission, and eight years on the Wellington City Council.

He has also been an integral member of the Wellington Optimist Club and Noon Lions Club.

Anderson has a wife Beverly and two daughters Laura Spencer and Danielle.

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