Jack Sandy AndersonApril 28, 1932 - July 26, 2015 Jack Sandy Anderson always had a special love for local history, engendered by his grandmother and other relatives, particularly the area of his birth and family roots. He was well acquainted with past West Fork Valley historians Nettie Bartlett Cooper, Harvey W. Harmer, W. Guy Tetrick, Glenn Lough, John Findlayson and Harvey Fortney. At the age of 15 he was attending meetings of the Marion County Historical Society and became president of that organization in 1967. In 1970 the society sponsored the formation of the Prickett's Fort Memorial Foundation. David H. Jones was president and he served as vice-president.
Their efforts to reconstruct the fort were successful and Marion County continues to benefit from their efforts.Jack was also an original board member of the Harrison County West Virginia Historical Society. In 1967 he worked to raise funds for the purchase of the Amy Roberts Vance House which serves as the society's headquarter and museum to this day. Through his efforts the society was able to acquire many objects, manuscripts and historic photos in its collection. Jack Sandy Anderson has been a leading historian in Harrison and Marion County and has authored many historical articles published in newspapers, magazines and books. Beginning in 1960 he wrote and published Ramblings, a book devoted to Shinnston area history followed by Other Days. To those who knew him, Jack was a friend and mentor. He was young in spirit, always ready to lend a helping hand whether it was to speak or offer a seasoned word of advice and wit.
He was a master story teller. He was active in a number of historical and ancestral-patriotic organizations: past president of the Marion County Historical Society, past president of the Harrison County Historical Society, organizing president of the Shinnston Historical Association, past state president of the Sons of the Revolution, past state president of the Huguenot Society, and co-founder and first vice president of the Pricketts Fort Memorial Foundation. He was a member of the George Rogers Clark Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and the West Virginia Historical Society. He was founder and past commander of the Military Order of Foreign Wars in West Virginia. His biography can be found in The Hereditary Register of the United States of America, Personalities of the South, Outstanding West Virginians, and The West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia.