August 16, 2020 | BY AAGD STAFF
AAGD Board Member Willie Simmons Jr. and his golfing buddy Paul Pradia celebrated their August 15th dual birthdays engaging in something both thoroughly enjoy, playing golf at Emerald Lakes Golf Course located in Elk Grove, California. Pradia, a Certified Professional United States Golf Teachers Federation Instructor teaches at the course and the dynamic duo had an awesome day together.
Simmons received a bounty of birthday greetings from his massive list of business and personal acquaintances, but, due to the current coronavirus situation, celebrated his special day with only immediate family and friends.
Simmons is the Founder of the Northern California Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association and said, “Thank God, I was able to play 9 holes of golf with one of my board member (Paul Pradia) who has the same birthday. Paul is 9 years younger than me.
Paul and I were matched in the same group more than 30 years ago and discovered that we were born on the same date. Since then, we have played golf on our birthdays whenever possible.” Simmons was born and raised in the hoods of West Monroe, LA and Oakland, CA thru high school (McClymonds High School, Oakland CA/Class of June 1948).
He moved to Sacramento, CA where he currently resides with his wife of 67- years, Pauline. They have five children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Simmons ‘ favorite meal is BBQ Ribs (or smothered pork chops) and he enjoys all of his meals with rice.
He was a professional musician and led his own group for more than 25 years which explains his passion for listening to 1960s-70s modern jazz. When not listening to music or driving his 2013 Ford Taurus, Simmons religiously watches political TV channels.
The nonagenarian plays at least four rounds of golf monthly. When asked about his secret for enjoying such longevity, Simmons says, “I really have no personal secrets.” but I am thankful for a few things:
- Thank God that I have been blessed to have a very healthy life
- I have never worried about anything
- I was born and raised in the hoods of West Monroe, LA and Oakland, CA thru high school (McClymonds High School, Oakland CA/Class of June 1948). Moved to Sacramento, CA
- I was fortunate to have religious parents that raised me, at an early age, through the church (I have been a continuous member of Shiloh Baptist Church/Sacramento, CA since 1947)
- I was taught to always respect your elders
- When I was 7 years old, my grandfather taught me to be independent and to “Hoe Your Own Row” meaning do not depend on someone to do things for you that you can do for yourself
Simmons was Federally employed for 36 years by the Department of Defense, as an Army and US Air Force Civilian. “I retired in January 1986 as a US Federal Civil Servant, General Superintendent of Electronics. I was in a position that required me to travel worldwide, enabling me to play golf in Spain, the Philippines, Hawaii, and much of the continental United States,” he says.
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“I was on active duty in the US Army for two years (1951-1953). I was fortunate to be assigned to Germany, and two things that I am very proud of while being there.”
- I was able to be coached by the same coach and run on the same track that Jesse Owens accomplished his heroics in the1936 Olympics
- I was part of a basketball team that had 54 wins and 4 losses and won the last 44 games in a row (US European Military Champions)
“Before Tiger Woods, it was Sam Snead. At the time my of interest in learning to play golf (1939), Blacks/African Americans were not allowed to be a member of the PGA. Also, not much media was about Black golfers.
I had been caddying at McGuire Golf & Country Club for two years in West Monroe, Louisiana, that I could not play on,” said Simmons. However, the
advancement of African Americans in golf has allowed Simmons to presently hold membership in his local area with the Sacramento Area Black Golf Club and the Western States Golf Association.
From all of our team at the African American Golfer’s Digest, Happy 90th Birthday Mr. Simmons!
