The Dr. James B. Simmons Dinner is a biennial public event dedicated to honoring individuals who carry forward the Simmons’ legacy of service and integrity.
Recipients of the Hardin-Simmons University Simmons Award are recognized for demonstrating significant determination and courage in breaking down barriers within their fields.
Dr. Simmons became the corresponding secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society in 1869. His focus was on providing educational opportunities for freed slaves in the post-Civil War South. In 1870, he established the Richmond Institute in Virginia and went on to help create six additional schools, including Benedict College and Shaw University.
His dedication to fundraising eventually led him to support Abilene Baptist College, which he wanted named Christlieb College, or "College of Christ’s Love."Given the fact that Dr. Simmons had donated $5,000 for the establishment of said institution of higher learning and had been so instrumental in its founding and eventual success, the college was named Simmons College. Dr. Simmons left a lasting impact on Christian education and was eventually laid to rest on the college grounds that bears his name. Dr. Simmons died at the on Dece. 17, 1905, age of 78. He is buried alongside his wife, Mary Eliza Stevens and their son, Robert.
Hardin-Simmons presented the inaugural Simmons Award to Dr. Virginia (Boyd) Connally, a 1933 graduate, who was a trailblazer in medicine at a time when female physicians were few. Her legacy is commemorated on campus by the Connally Mission Center. Like Dr. Simmons, Dr. Connally saw education as a powerful tool for change and used her medical skills to serve and heal.
The second Simmons Award was presented to Dr. Charles and Mrs. Roena Tandy. Dr. Tandy, a 1949 HSU graduate, became the second anesthesiologist at Methodist Medical Center of Dallas in 1958. His dedication to service included treating patients regardless of their ability to pay. Roena Tandy, an educator, worked at First Baptist Dallas and served on multiple boards, adding to her community’s well-being.
The Simmons Dinner also raises scholarship funds for HSU students. The first two events generated over $125,000 in scholarships. This year’s dinner will take place on Friday, Nov. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Statler Hilton Hotel in Dallas. Tickets are priced at $200 per person, and the event is open to the public.
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