Murray State University Athletics
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Racer Family Mourns Loss of Doc Simmons
12/18/2008 6:00:00 AM | General, Hall of Fame
The Murray State Racer family lost a dear member Wednesday with the passing of former head athletic trainer Tom "Doc" Simmons.
He is survived by his wife Margaret, who served as track and field coach and administrator at MSU for 38 years, and two children, Mary Jo and Mark (Tooter).
Viewing will be held at JH Churchill Funeral Home Friday evening from 5-8 p.m. The burial mass will start at 11 a.m. Saturday, at St. Leo's Catholic Church.
Simmons came to Murray State in 1964 as the school's first athletic trainer and effectively brought sports medicine to western Kentucky. When he arrived, there were only two other athletic trainers in the state: at Kentucky and Louisville.
Simmons devoted 27 years of service to MSU before retiring in 1993. He was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1990.
"It's hard to know where to start. Doc was the first athletic trainer at Murray State, and one of the first in both the Ohio Valley Conference and the state," said current MSU Head Athletic Trainer Alan Lollar. "The number of lives he has touched, both as an athletic trainer and a mentor, are really too numerous to count. Many of us would not be where we are today without Doc. When you were his friend, you learned what friendship meant."
"In a day and time when people routinely think of themselves first, he was just the opposite. He worked until the job was done. Ultimately, the heart he gave so many times, just gave out. He will be missed, but will be an influence on our lives forever."
In 2006, Simmons was inducted as a member of the inaugural class of the Kentucky Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Fame. He was also selected as the District Trainer of the Year by the Southeast Athletic Trainers Association in 1993 and 1994.
The legacy of Tom "Doc" Simmons is a constant inside the halls of Stewart Stadium as the athletic training room bears his name. Simmons designed and laid out the training room when the plans for the stadium were being developed in the late 1960's.
Simmons grew up in Detroit, Mich., and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Detroit. He earned a master's degree in physical education from Murray State in 1967.
Before joining MSU, Simmons worked with the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the NBA's Detroit Pistons.
"Tom Simmons will always be remembered for his service to Murray State and its student-athletes," said MSU Director of Athletics Allen Ward. "He gave his life to MSU and for that he will forever be a part of the Racer family."
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family asks that donations be made in the name of Tom Simmons to:
Murray, Ky. 42071
Players Mentioned
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