Posted on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 : noon
Corrections made to article about Red Simmons
By Jim Knight
We recently had a feature article about Red Simmons, the first women’s track coach at Michigan and who recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
Simmons has had an interesting life and is in the athletic hall of fames at Eastern Michigan and Michigan. Our article, however, included some inaccuracies. Simmons, according to Michigan High School Athletic Association records, was not a state champion hurdler in 1928 and he was not part of the 1932 Olympic team.
Comments
88Chill
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
I believe Red was an alternate on the 1932 Olympic team. Also, perhaps you speak of a different Honorary M, but the Honorary M bestowed by the Letterwinners M Club was given to Red sometime between 1969 and 1985, according to that Club's records. One other item that may be of interest to your readers is that Red spoke occasionally of what was then the Western Conference championship track meet in 1935 at which Jesse Owens broke 3 world records and tied a 4th in the span of 45 minutes. Red was raking the long jump pit during that meet and saw it happen. He always punctuated his recollection of that amazing event by reminding us all that Michigan won the meet.