Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

On Saturday June 16, 2018, God called our loved one, good neighbor, and friend Rev. Harvey Benoit Augusta Roosevelt Simmons home after he lived a full and fulling life of loving God and fellowman. Rev. Simmons is already missed dearly by those he touched during his lifetime and service to God. He was a life-long supporter of Richwood High School. He was employed by the Ouachita Parish School System as an Industrial Arts Instructor and retired head Richwood track coach, as well as assistant football coach to Legendary Coach Mackie Freeze during Richwood's track and football glory and championship days in the 1960's. His track team produced outstanding athletes as Henry "Stick horse" Stewart, Robert Stewart, Don Zimmerman, Joe Profit, Larry Gene, William Henderson, Percy Smith, C.D. Newton, Joe Ross and many others who went on to run track at various universities. Mr. Simmons gave his all to Richwood High School and it's students, faculty, administrators and staff.

He volunteered as bus driver for Richwood's football, track and basketball teams as well as football game announcer and commentator. Rev. Simmons also manufactured man of Coach Freeze's awe-inspiring paddling boards known by players as "Papa." Players were also given summer and weekend jobs working in his garden /truck patches harvesting watermelons, and other produce to sell to customers.

Rev. Simmons was a loyal and devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather and church servant. His funeral services are Saturday June 23, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Jerusalem Baptist Church in Calhoun, LA. Condolences are extended to his beautiful family from all his Richwood, Monroe, Calhoun, LA and nationwide family.