J.W. Anderson was born in Brenham, Texas, and raised in the small town of New Ulm, Texas. After graduating from Brenham High School, he signed up to serve his country in the United States Army. He served as an Infantryman and did a tour overseas in Iraq, where he received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in combat. While in the army, he learned a lot of phrases, but the one that stayed with him the most was, “I’ve got your six.” As a soldier, it meant “I’ve got your back,” no matter what.
He attended Sam Houston State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He then attended law school at South Texas College of Law in downtown Houston. While attending law school, he interned at Donato, Minx, Brown & Pool. During that time, he assisted attorneys in various personal injury and subrogation cases. He also clerked for Phil Baker P.C., assisting him with various criminal defense cases.