Willie Lee Simmons
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Willie Lee Simmons
| birth_name = Willie Lee Simmons
| birth_place = Utica, Mississippi, U.S.
| office1 = Commissioner for the Mississippi Transportation Commission for the Central District
| termstart1 = January 7, 2020
| termend1 =
| office2 = Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 13th district
| termstart2 = January 5, 1993
| party = Democratic
| termend2 = January 7, 2020
| successor2 = Sarita Simmons
| predecessor1 = Dick Hall
| predecessor2 = Robert Crook
| spouse = Rosie Sibley
| residence = Cleveland, Mississippi
| alma_mater = Utica Junior College
Alcorn State University (BS)
Delta State University (EdS, MS)
| image = Willie Lee Simmons.jpg
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|3|21}}
}}
Willie Lee Simmons (born March 21, 1947) is an American politician and former member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 13th District, where he served from 1993 to 2020. Simmons ran and won the election to the Mississippi Transportation Commission for the Central District. Prior to serving in the senate, he worked in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
He is a member of the Democratic Party. His daughter is Sarita Simmons, Senator for Mississippi's 13th district.
Early life and education
Simmons was born on March 21, 1947 in Utica, Mississippi and went to Utica Junior College.{{Cite web |title=Willie Lee Simmons |url=http://www.ls.state.ms.us/senate/simmons.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806044846/http://www.ls.state.ms.us:80/senate/simmons.htm |archive-date=August 6, 2007 |website=Mississippi State Senate}}{{Cite news |last=Holland |first=Gina |date=February 15, 1999 |title=Senator leaves mark on Parchman inmates |work=The Greenwood Commonwealth |pages=5 |agency=Associated Press}} He graduated from Alcorn State University in 1967 with a bachelor's in social science;{{Cite news |date=February 23, 1995 |title=Willie Lee Simmons seeks re-election to Senate |work=The Enterprise-Tocsin |pages=8}} and received Master of Science Degree in guidance and counseling and Education Specialist Degree in counseling and administration from Delta State University.{{Cite web |title=Central Commissioner |url=https://mdot.ms.gov/portal/central_commissioner |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Mississippi Department of Transportation |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=July 30, 1992 |title=Special election is Tuesday |work=The Enterprise-Tocsin |pages=1, 12}} He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
Career
Simmons worked as Deputy Commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He founded a pre-release program for inmates at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in 1975. The Mississippi Senate considered naming the program's building at the facility after Simmons. Simmons also worked as a visiting professor for Delta State University and the U.S. Post Office.
A Democrat, he ran for the Mississippi State Senate against Senator Robert Crook in 1992 who was running for re-election to the newly re-apportioned 13th district, which represented Sunflower and Bolivar Counties. Simmons won 54% to 46%, which was considered an upset, as Crook was the most senior member of the legislature.{{Cite news |date=August 6, 1992 |title=Simmons defeats 29-year senator Crook |work=The Enterprise-Tocsin |pages=1}} Simmons served in the Senate for 26 years, of which 8 years he served as chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.{{Cite web |title=Former District 13 state senator and current Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons honored this week |url=http://www.enterprise-tocsin.com/front-page-slideshow-news/former-district-13-state-senator-and-current-central-district |access-date=2020-10-12 |website=The Enterprise-Tocsin |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Sarah |date=2019-01-17 |title=Senator Willie Simmons announces run for Central District Transportation Commissioner |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2019/01/17/senator-willie-simmons-announces-run-for-central-district-transportation-commissioner/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}} In the senate, he played a role in the repair of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the upgrade and repair of Highway 8 in Cleveland, Mississippi, and the Highway 82 Bypass in Leland, Mississippi. During his leadership, he appropriated $5 billion in highway and other infrastructure improvements.
In mid-January 2019, Simmons announced a run for the Mississippi Transportation Commission for the Central District after Dick Hall announced his retirement. He won the election against Republic Mayor Butch Lee 51.1% to 48.9% and was sworn into office in January.{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Sarah |date=2020-01-07 |title=Mississippi Transportation Commission Oath of Office Ceremonies Held in Jackson |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2020/01/07/mississippi-transportation-commission-oath-of-office-ceremonies-held-in-jackson/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-11-05 |title=Storylines for Election Day 2019 in Mississippi |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2019/11/04/storylines-for-election-day-2019-in-mississippi/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Willie Simmons (Mississippi) |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Willie_Simmons_(Mississippi) |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}} He won reelection in 2023 against Republican Ricky Pennington 55.2% to 44.8% and was named chairman of the commission in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Sarah |date=2024-01-03 |title=Transportation Commissioners sworn in; Simmons elected chairman |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2024/01/03/transportation-commissioners-sworn-in-simmons-elected-chairman/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Corder |first=Frank |date=2023-02-02 |title=Who's running for state office in Mississippi in 2023? |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2023/02/02/state-elections-in-mississippi-2023/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}}
Personal life
He is married to Rose Sibley Simmons and has four children, including Senator Sarita Simmons, who also represents the 13th district.{{Cite news |date=June 25, 2020 |title=Former District 13 State Senator and Current Central District Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons Honored This Week |url=https://www.enterprise-tocsin.com/front-page-slideshow-news/former-district-13-state-senator-and-current-central-district |work=The Enterprise-Tocsin}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Willie Lee}}
Category:African-American state legislators in Mississippi
Category:Democratic Party members of the Mississippi House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Mississippi Legislature
Category:People from Utica, Mississippi
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:20th-century African-American politicians
{{Mississippi statewide political officials}}