RIP Red Simmons, first Michigan women's track coach
Per Dave Brandon on Twitter:
Dave Brandon @DaveBrandonAD
The end of a great life. Red Simmons, 1st women's @umichtrack coach, passed away at the age of 102. Condolences, prayers to his family.
Here's an article about his amazing life written back in 2010 when he was a young lad of 100:
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/former-track-star-and-coach-creates-a-le…
April 13th, 2012 at 11:33 PM ^
Long lived.
As soon as I saw "RIP Red", I flipped out, though.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:20 PM ^
Remember hearing a lot about him a couple of years ago when he turned 100. What an amazing life. RIP Red a true legend
April 13th, 2012 at 11:29 PM ^
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/50-facts-about-red-simmons-in-honor-of-1…
(One fact from the list: He attended the first game in Michigan Stadium, in 1927, at the age of 17.)
I am priviliged to have spoken with him on several occasions. He attended just about every hockey game at Yost, and used to sell 50/50 raffle tickets in one of the dekers booths up until he was 98 or so. He was an amazing man, and a great storyteller.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:45 PM ^
To be honest, I never wanted to reveal this, because I am such a Michigan football/basketball fan. But my dad, James Henry is the women's Track and Field coach at Michigan (hence the username). So this hits home hard. My dad's in Knoxville right now and called and told us. He's not a very emotional person, actually, he's not emotional at all, but he's absolutely devestated. Without Red, there's no womens track, with no womens track, there's no Coach Henry, and without that, I would not be here this very day. Red came to my middle school basketball games, my high school basketball games at Pioneer, and always supported my family and I in whatever we did. He will be missed GREATLY, and we will continue to be thankful for what he has done for the rest of our lives.
R.I.P. Red.
April 13th, 2012 at 11:54 PM ^
Truly one of the greats. It's hard to imagine Michigan Athletics without Red Simmons.
April 14th, 2012 at 12:44 AM ^
the man still lifted weights and walked every morning upwards of 6-10 miles even nearing 100 years of age...that's a bummer...he seemed like one of those guys who was immortal. Telling stories of racing Jesse Owens and showing the watches, ribbons, and medals to back it up. He used to hang around the track regularly and had the memory of a man decades younger...he'll be sorely missed on the campus but no doubt keep his eye on the track program and Michigan... RIP Red.
Was he the guy that walked through Schembechler Hall every morning in the summers? He was there just about every day this past summer right around 8 A.M. He was extremely nice and friendly with a big smile on his face all the time.
Thank you Coach for helping spearhead the women's program, you will be missed.
April 14th, 2012 at 10:23 AM ^
I was fortunate to meet Red and Lois in early 2006, and he was the nicest man. I asked him what the secret to his longevity was, and he told me it was exercising every single day. I'm sure most would agree that it's better said than done. A few months later, I saw him at a baseball game at Fisher Stadium, and after saying hello, he took me over to meet Jennie Ritter, the starting pticher on Michigan's 2005 national champion softball team. I also remember seeing him and Lois for several years after that sitting in their usual courtside seats at U of M women's basketball games. He was so kind and loved to talk to everyone, and I know that he will be very much missed by so many people, especially those of us in the Michigan community. Red Simmons, a "True Michigan Man".
Great, great guy. He will be missed. RIP.