Anderson Marine's Humble Beginnings
For Anderson Marine, Inc. dba Family Boating Center in Old Hickory, TN the celebration of 40 years in business is steeped in family roots, Nashville history, and perseverance to accomplish the American Dream. Raymond Anderson, Sr. worked and retired from The Bill Voorhees Company on 8th Avenue, along with managing his own garage repair shop to make ends meet for his family. Ray Anderson’s love for the outdoors and mechanical skills developed as he grew up helping his dad work on lawn mowers, chain saws, motorcycles, and anything with an engine. Ray says, “My Dad could honestly fix anything except a broken heart.” Ray’s dad taught him the values of hard work and treating customers with respect that would lead him down the path of success.
At the age of 19, Ray’s dad helped him land his first job at Bob’s Boat Mart on 10th and Main Street where the building still stands in what is called Five Points in East Nashville. The owner of Bob’s Boat Mart retired so Ray went on to work as a mechanic at Commodore Marine which was on Charlotte Pike. Ray recalls, “There was a group of repeat customers who encouraged me to open up my own repair shop, so I decided to take their advice.” In 1982 Ray Started Anderson Marine on Old Hickory Blvd and Dickerson Road in a block building with no bathroom. Ray’s service and sales increased, and he was able to pick up the Yamaha Outboard line when the Nashville Airport bought out the land of the original “Nashville Marine” dealership. With big plans for the future, Ray Anderson was blessed to find a local banker who believed in his abilities and dreams and helped him get approved for an SBA loan. “It was a long hard process but worth it all in the end” recalls Ray, who moved Anderson Marine to a new building he built off Old Hickory Blvd in Madison.
In 1995 Joy Anderson, who worked for Transamerica Commercial Finance, was visiting her boat dealer accounts at the Nashville Boat Show and that is when the two were able to get to know each other after talking on the phone for 4 years. “She was always calling me asking for money, so I decided I better marry her” jokes Ray. Ray and Joy live in Wilson County and have raised two sons, Braxton and Dylan, who have both grown up at the boat shop. Braxton Anderson joined the Navy and became a corpsman assigned to the ICU at the Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune and finished his service with the 3rd Batallón 2nd Marine’s Infantry unit. Dylan Anderson became a leader of the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga MOCS Bass Anglers Fishing Team and Graduated from UTC Chattanooga with a degree in Business. Both sons are involved in the business and the Anderson Family continues to work together each focusing on their strengths and areas that they enjoy.
“Everything has come full circle with a lot of hard work sweat and tears” comments Joy Anderson as she recalls walking to the mailbox praying that checks had come in just to be able to pay the light bill. The Lord has blessed us, and we work hard to return our blessings to our community and our customers. One of the programs Anderson Marine, Inc. helps support is local High Schools and Colleges and the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School Youth Angler Series. It is so rewarding to see the smiles on the kid’s faces out there fishing and learning to love the great outdoors!
The following photos are from an article Bass Master Magazine wrote on Ray in 1978.
Ray was also written about in the Tennesseean in 2002. You can see the article below.
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