Attorney Simmons to get honorary doctorate EDWARDSVILLE - Alton attorney and philanthropist John Simmons will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Southern University Illinois Edwardsville. The degree will be bestowed upon Simmons at SIUE’s spring commencement exercises May 9 at the Vadalabene Center on campus, the university announced today. Simmons, who graduated with honors from SIUE in political science, earned his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas. He is founder and chairman of Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC, a national law firm headquartered in Alton, with additional offices in St. Louis, Chicago, San Francisco and El Segundo, Calif. Since the founding of his firm in 1999, Simmons has given his time, service and finances to benefit SIUE and the surrounding community. SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe said Simmons’ honor is well deserved. “John continues to be highly involved in the university and, as an alum, he is one of our biggest proponents as well as an excellent role model,” Furst-Bowe said. “We are so appreciative of his ongoing support of his alma mater and know that his example has positively affected others’ perceptions of what SIUE has to offer.” Simmons gave $10.2 million to help build the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU in Springfield (2005), $1 million to renovate the Edwardsville campus’ baseball complex (2004) and significant contributions toward construction of an SIUE golf training facility. Some $5 million has been awarded to charities and events throughout the St. Louis region by the Simmons Family Foundation. The firm’s employees, motivated by Simmons’ generosity, started their own Simmons Employee Foundation in 2004, which has donated more than $1 million and many volunteer hours to charitable organizations throughout Madison County and beyond. In addition to donations to charities and nonprofits across the bi-state area, the Simmons Law Firm has donated more than $10 million to mesothelioma cancer research through the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and its national sponsorship of Miles for Meso 5K fund-raising events. “As a businessman, to be recognized in this way is the highest of compliments,” Simmons said. “It is certainly one to be shared with my family, my employees and my colleagues, for without their efforts and support, this phenomenal honor would have been unachievable.” Before attending SIUE, Simmons served as a U.S. Army combat engineer for two years. He later went to work with his father building houses. His father inspired Simmons to become a lawyer, and within months he enrolled at the University and later SMU. While in law school, Simmons worked part-time representing nonprofit organizations and churches. During his tenure on the SIU Board, Simmons helped increase campus diversity, raise salaries and develop effective capital campaigns while in the midst of economic hardship. “As an SIUE alum and long-time SIU Board member, it means a great deal to me to be recognized by those with whom I’ve partnered with over the years to make SIUE a top institution of higher learning,” said Simmons. “I am so very grateful for this wonderful honor.”
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 19:13:21 +0000
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