The man we call Tom Simmons has always tried to stay humble and grounded about everything he has achieved over the years, preferring to say instead that it’s never been about him. “I did all this because I care for others, and love to work with kids and people of all ages. It is the people that keep me going,” he has said. He gets so excited about telling people about his time as Rec Director for Clarion, along with all of the great people he’s met and the accomplishments he has had along the way. Even though he’s retired now he still has many great moments and memories to look back on. It has been his desire to do one more story to share those things that have made him proud and happy, and again not to inflate his ego but to recognize all of the people who helped him do what he has done.
In his 30-plus years career, he has been in charge of recreation programs year-round. In the fall, it’s both flag football for young kids and POP tackle football for older kids. There’s also soccer and volleyball. He also holds a Night Hike out at Lake Cornelia Park. Winter brings open gym basketball, youth wrestling tournaments and indoor soccer for the youngest kids in the community. Not to be left out, the adults can get involved in volleyball (women and co-ed) leagues and a tournament or a men’s basketball league. He also enjoys taking volunteers on a caroling night at Christmas time.
Outdoor activities pick up again in the spring, including a track club for pre-K to sixth graders. He has hosted a USA qualifying meet with runners attending from across the state. Summer brings a bevy of activities to keep the kids occupied during their break from school. Those include blast ball, rag ball and T-ball along with minor league, little league and midget teams. Softball is offered as T-ball, junior or senior leagues depending on age. Adults can also play sand volleyball or softball, and that includes a co-ed league. However, this is only the beginning of his list of activities and highlights!
He has worked on the sideline crew for football games at all grade levels, and was the visitor’s side supervisor at Friday night home games. He’s been in charge of both the local and sectional NFL annual Punt, Pass & Kick competition. A huge highlight for him was being invited to the former Metrodome to help with a Midwest regional competition. Along that same line, he ran the local Iowa Parks & Recreation Place kick, Punt and Throw event and worked at the Iowa Jaycees state Run, Punt & Pass event held at the UNI-dome. He has even worked on the chain crew or ran the clock at Iowa Central football home games, and that has included the 2019 Graphic Edge Bowl.
He has been a clock/scoreboard operator for Cowboy wrestling meets for the high school and middle school, and has done the same for Iowa Central home meets as well. He has supervised middle school volleyball and basketball games, and has ran the shot put event at high school and middle school home track & field meets along with being a curve judge.
Don’t think his time has been spent only on local sports, because Simmons has enjoyed his moments at the state level as well. This past February marked 14 years working the bench as a clock operator at state wrestling, and seven years ago was fortunate to have the honor of working the NCAA wrestling championships in Des Moines as both a camera operator and a countdown person for the mat officials. He has led “Take me out to the ball game” twice and ran the scoreboard at Principal Park on two occasions when the Cowboys played there. He has coordinated the Knight’s of Columbus free throw contest, and has seen Clarion host both district and regional rounds several times along with 13 years of the state championships. He has enjoyed trips to Adventureland with middle school band & chorus students, and to Valley Fair in Minnesota with peer helpers.
He has handled several local annual events such as the Turkey Spot Shot, Easter Egg Hunt, being the ‘prize patrol’ for Bridging the Gap night, Bicycle Safety Rodeo with state trooper Pam Brockman and Ev Keller and adult education coordinator for both C-G-D school and Iowa Central for many years. He has enjoyed going with busloads of kids and adult supervisors to Principal Park on Lions Club Night to watch an Iowa Cubs game with free tickets. As part of that, he was able to secure local talent for singing the National Anthem on that night. Another one of his fondest moments was being a ‘motivator’ for the pie-eating contest, along with assisting at the big wheel races, at the Iowa State Fair.
With all of that, he still found time for starting an exercise program for seniors that he liked to call ‘Easy Going Exercises for the Young at Heart’, which is still meeting at the Fitness Center. He has driven a CAT van for the City, and could be seen for many years hauling his wrestling bear in the back of a pickup in the Festival parade.
“I have enjoyed every minute of being a recreation director all these years,” he is quoted as saying. “In this profession, you’re either going to love this work or hate it. It takes a real people-person, and a person that enjoys being visible at all times. I have always believed that if you give your whole heart to your community, your community will give back to you.” He also readily admits he could not have done all this without the sacrifices made by his family. “God has blessed me with a wonderful and understanding wife and four great sons,” said Simmons. “I wish to thank them for allowing me to do all this.” I can only add Well Done Tom! You have certainly earned your reward and can now take life just a bit easier knowing you’ve made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many kids!
