This year’s Festival in the Park parade grand marshal is native Clarionite Tom Simmons.
Jordan Weber of the Festival committee said, “Tom’s selection for the Festival in the Park Parade was easy,” she said, “He is so well known within Clarion and has done so much for our youth and for the city of Clarion. There is no better Marshal for 2022 Festival! We are happy to have him in our community!”
For more than thirty years, Tom Simmons was Clarion’s Recreation Director. He devoted himself not only to the young people of our community, but people of all ages. And lots of activities. “I was the first hired director to that position,” said Simmons. Beginning his duties in January 1985, he had a blank page on which to write.
“Full speed ahead.” “An Energizer bunny.” “Including lots of people in anything he did,” were just some of the comments people mentioned when describing Simmons.
A Clarion graduate in 1970, Simmons attended ICCC for two years, one year at DMACC, before earning his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Buena Vista, with a minor in recreation. He enjoyed five years as Eagle Grove’s Rec Director before being hired by Clarion. “I really enjoyed my time in Eagle Grove, but my heart has always been in Clarion,” he said.
Activities over his thirty-year career are too many to mention, but Simmons was always busy regardless of the season. Fall always brought flag football and POPS tackle football. In the winter, Simmons organized indoor soccer, wrestling tournaments, and open gym. “Some years, we had women’s volleyball and co-ed volleyball, as well as men’s basketball league,” he said. He enjoyed coordinating the Knights of Columbus (K of C) free throw contest, and was happy to have Clarion host both district and regional contests, several times. The K of C state championships were held in Clarion for 13 years.
Summer was generally his busiest time of the year. “Events included blast ball, rag ball, and t-ball,” said Simmons, “along with minor league, little league, and midget teams.” Softball was offered as t-ball, junior and senior leagues. He enjoyed going with busloads of kids and adult supervisors to Principal Park on Lions Club Night to watch the Iowa Cubs play, using free tickets. “Several times I was able to secure local talent to sing the National Anthem on those nights,” he said.
Since Simmons’ office was in the CGD middle school building, Principal Steve Haberman said, “Every morning I would sing to him the song ‘Touchdown Tommy is a Friend of Mine’ and he would respond with a big ole smile and say, ‘It’s so good to see you, Mr. Haberman.’ He would always tell me, ‘It’s for the kids, Mr. Haberman, it’s for the kids.’”
Older adults were not left out during Simmons tenure serving Clarion. “I began an exercise program for seniors that I liked calling ‘Easy Going Exercises for the Young at Heart,” he said. “ We did them at the Meadows and at the fitness center.” Eventually he made a tape of the routines which could be played whether he was with the group or not. He is unsure if the exercises continue today.
Another winter highlight was organizing Christmas caroling, taking busloads of people – many times including middle school Peer Helpers and school musicians – to the Meadows, assisted living, hospital, and care center. “Often Dwight Tew (bus driver) and I would return a few evenings later to take people without transportation around Clarion to look at lights,” Simmons said.
Meadows Assisted Living resident Maureen Elston said, “Tom is such an energetic man. He wants to help wherever he can.”
And who can forget Clarion’s Easter Egg Hunts? “They were a big thing for me,” said Simmons. “One year we had over 400 kids enjoying the annual hunt.” Not only did he do the ‘prize patrol’ for Easter Egg hunts, many times he would get prizes from merchants and groups for the CGMS Bridging the Gap Nights at the same time.
Simmons put away the soccer balls and cleats for the city in 2017. “I have enjoyed every minute of being the recreation director for all those years,” he said. “In this profession, you’re either going to love the work or hate it. I have always believed that if you give your whole heart to your community, your community will give back to you.” One of his claims to fame was getting people to volunteer with the things he would organize.
Haberman concluded, “In short, Tom would do anything for anyone and do it with passion, energy, a smile and LOVE in his heart. “
Simmons is excited about the honor of being chosen the 2022 Festival in the Park Grand Marshal. “God has blessed me with a wonderful and understanding wife and four great sons. I need to thank them for allowing me to do all of this. I continue to love this community.”
