William G. Anderson, Civil Rights leader and physician, dies at 98

Dr. William G. Anderson, a prominent physician and Civil Rights Movement leader, passed away on August 16, 2026, at the age of 98. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) honored his legacy, noting his significant contributions to both the medical profession and the fight for racial equality in the United States.

Dr. Anderson was a key organizer and leader of the Albany Movement in Georgia, which served as the first mass effort to protest community segregation during the Civil Rights era. During this period, he worked alongside prominent leaders such as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rev. Ralph David Abernathy.

In addition to his activism, Dr. Anderson was a respected surgeon and a past president of the AOA. He established the American Osteopathic Foundation scholarship fund and authored autobiographies detailing his life and work.