Highland Community College Athletic Hall of Fame
Inducted September 14, 2014
Paul Simmons came to Highland after graduating from Midway High School in 1965. He went on from Highland to receive his Bachelor’s degree from Fort Hays State University in 1969. While at Highland, he participated in football, basketball, and track in 1965 and ’66 and helped win the Conference in football both years.
While at Fort Hays, Simmons was All-Conference in 1968; led the team in tackles, was All District 10, and was Honorable Mention NAIA Little All-American. Paul also played baseball; he had a .380 batting average and chalked up three individual records. In 1969, Paul was the 14th athlete to receive the Paul Busch Gross Award, which is given each year to the graduating athlete deemed most outstanding in scholarship, citizenship, leadership, and athletics at Fort Hays State.
Paul married Mary Miller Simmons in 1966. They have four children, Dave, Paula, Barry, and Tammy, and have six grandchildren. In addition to farming, Paul owned and operated P&S Muffler & Radiator Shop in Hiawatha. He retired in 2010, and loves spending time with his grandchildren, who are the light of his life. Paul noted, “If I had it all to do over again, I wouldn’t change a thing!”
