At a young age, Bro. Simmons lost both of his parents placing he and his sisters in an orphanage. Despite these hardships, Bro. Simmons went on to graduate from a prep school and attended Middle Tennessee State University where he received his Bachelors and Masters in Health and P.E. Bro. Simmons came to Austin Peay State University (APSU) in 1978 where he gave 22 distinguished years of sevice at APSU's Memorial Health Building, "The Red Barn." During his time at APSU Bro. Simmons was the Project Administrator for the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) which the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. has always made contributions and participating in the program since its start. NYSP is geared toward the disadvantaged youth of our community. Any one who knew Drew knew that he had a heart for young people. He went out into the community himself and helped to recruit youth for the program at times going door to door to even the roughest neighborhoods in Clarksville. He did this because within him he believed in the program and the benfits that all the kids could receive from it. Bro. Simmons was also the founder of FOCUS: Young People Emerging, a campus organization for minority students which broght in professional minorities from the business world to prepare them for the world outside of college. Some of the things taught was how to dress for success to an interviews, etiquette, and how to be an entrepreneur.
Bro. Simmons was a devout member of his home church The Community Church, to where he annually donated turkeys, food baskets, and various other itmes needed to the members of the church and supported families of the church. Bro. Simmons was actively involved in Boy Scouts of America and partnered with Montgomery County Juvenile Court System and the public service work program in allowing troubled teens to perform community service hours in the Memorial Health Building. He felt this building was a beacon of light and if he could use it to help individuals then that was an added bonus.
Bro. Simmons was also a very active member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He was the advisor of the undergraduate Alpha Rho chapter of APSU. He along with Bro. Michael L. Sutherland are chartering members of the Graduate Chapter Lambda Alpha Sigma located in Clarksville, TN, an achievement that had been in the making for over eight years. Bro. Simmons facilitated a relationship between Phi Beta Sigma and Big Brothers/Big Sisters in which members of the fraternity mentored young people and cosponsored events such as Bowl Kids Sake.
Bro. Simmons contributed to Clarksville community every day of his life. Bro. Simmons was the kind of individual who brought out the finest qualities in people from all walks of life and people were fiercely loyal to him. Bro. Simmons was such an influence to Austin Peay's campus that in the spring semester of 2004 APSU created a fitness center where it was named "The Drew Simmons Fitness Center."
Bro. Simmons illustrious life came to a sudden halt November 17, 1999 when he suffered a heart attack. He left behind his wife Pearl Simmons, a son, Auriel, and a daughter, Erin. His funeral service was held at APSU's Memorial Health Building and his place of rest is merely a few minutes down the road from the school he so immensely influenced. Bro. Simmons was an exceptional man who lived his life in accordance with God. He was an awesome individual who touched countless people in so many ways. We end with a qoute "To know him is to LOVE HIM." You are and will be forever loved and never forgotten, Rest In Peace "Godfather."
From the Brothers of Alpha Rho and Lambda Alpha Sigma
