Reuben Leon and Fairess (Clark) Simmons

Duane's take

Here's my telling of the marker, just as the Texas Historical Commission sets it down, for Reuben Leon and Fairess Clark Simmons of Wood County. Now settle in, because this one's worth every mile of road it takes to get here. Some stories start with a setback, and this is one of those.

Reuben Leon Simmons was born in 1894, right here in the Forest Home community of Wood County. His father died, and after that loss, the family moved to Pleasant Grove. Young Reuben left school after the third grade to work on a farm.

Third grade, folks. That's where the formal education stopped, for a while. But here's the thing about Reuben Leon Simmons.

He had a determination in him that a cotton field couldn't touch. He made up his mind he was going to finish school and become a teacher. And in 1914, he walked himself right back into the Quitman School District and did exactly that, securing a teaching certification.

He taught first at Wayside, then returned to Forest Home, where his story had begun. In 1926, he married Fairess Clark, a woman from the Bellefonte community of Wood County, born in 1903. Fairess had attended East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce, Hunt County, and she arrived in that marriage with her own teaching certification and a full measure of purpose.

Together they would have three sons. By 1930, the people of Golden had taken notice of Reuben Leon Simmons, and they selected him to become superintendent of schools there. He would hold that role until 1947, overseeing changes that included major renovation to Golden High School.

And in 1938, he added an M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin to his name. Think about that arc: third grade to superintendent to a graduate degree from UT Austin. Fairess, for her part, was teaching English at Golden High School and serving as pianist at Golden Baptist Church, both of them woven deep into the civic and church life of the community.

In 1947, Reuben Leon and Fairess made one more move, this time to Travis County, where Reuben became superintendent for the Manor School District. He served there until his death in 1954. Fairess kept right on teaching, in Manor and later at Del Valle High School, and she earned her own master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

She retired in 1973 and died in 1990. Between the two of them, eighty-three combined years in public school education. Eighty-three years of classrooms, students, and communities shaped.

The marker says it plainly and honestly: Reuben Leon and Fairess Simmons are remembered as educators, parents, and church and community leaders who influenced generations of residents and students in Wood County and throughout Texas. A boy who left school after third grade. A woman from Bellefonte with a piano and a purpose.

Between them, they built something that outlasted them both.

What the marker says

Reuben Leon Simmons and his wife Fairess (Clark) served as educators in public schools for a combined 83 years. Reuben Leon Simmons was born in 1894 in the Forest Home community (Wood Co). After the death of his father, Simmons and his family moved to Pleasant Grove, where he left school after the third grade to work on a farm. Determined to finish school and become a teacher, Simmons entered the Quitman School District in 1914, later securing a teaching certification. He first taught at Wayside before returning to Forest Home. In 1926, he married Fairess Clark of the Bellefonte community; they would have three sons. Fairess was born in 1903 in Wood County. She attended East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce (Hunt Co.), receiving teaching certification. In 1930, Reuben was selected to become superintendent of schools in Golden. He served in this capacity until 1947, overseeing changes including major renovation to Golden High School. In 1938, he received an M.B.A. degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Fairess taught English in Golden High School. While here, the couple was highly involved in civic and church affairs; Fairess served as pianist at Golden Baptist Church. in 1947, the couple moved to Travis County, where Reuben Leon became superintendent for the Manor School District. He served in this position until his death in 1954. Fairess continued to teach in Manor and later at Del Valle High School; she also received a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She retired in 1973 and died in 1990. Today, Reuben Leon and Fairess Simmons are remembered as educators, parents, and church and community leaders who influenced generations of residents and students in Wood County and throughout Texas. (2008)