1983 Appointed lieutenant colonel, aide-de-camp, and governor’s staff by Georgia’s Governor Joe Frank Harris.
- Citizens of Toccoa, GA, placed a permanent granite marker at his birthplace in Toccoa.
- Georgia’s Governor Joe Frank Harris proclaimed “Paul Anderson Day”.
- The United States Congressional Record paid tribute to Paul Anderson.
- Paul receives a kidney transplant from his sister Dorothy Johnson.
- Granted the Honorary Presidential Sports/Fitness Award for his contribution to sports in the USA by President Ronald Reagan.
1984 Inducted into National Power lifting Hall of Fame. Awarded “Father of the Year” by Southeast Father’s Day Committee.
1985 Paul’s illness worsens, forcing him to remain in Vidalia, Georgia; thus, relinquishing the other Youth Homes to their Board of Directors.
1986 Georgia’s Governor Joe Frank Harris declared “Paul Anderson Day” in commemoration of the Paul Anderson Youth Home’s twenty-fifth anniversary.
1990 Awarded Honorary Doctor of Education from Piedmont College, Demorest, Georgia.
1992 Inducted into the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Hall of Champions; since he is too ill to accept the award, his daughter Paula accepts it on his behalf.
- Presented “Strongest Man of the Century” award at the USA Power and Strength Symposium, Orlando, Florida.
- American Powerlifting Federation/World Powerlifting Congress Hall of Fame Award.
1994 Paul goes to be with the Lord after a long battle with kidney failure.
- The United States Congressional Record paid tribute to him.
