ENID, Okla. — It’s safe to say Claude William Simmons Jr., known as “Junior” to family and friends, influenced thousands of lives during his career as a band director and managing director of the Tri-State Music Festival.
Those people are remembering Simmons now for his abilities and accomplishments. Simmons died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at age 85 at The Commons.
Claude William “Junior” Simmons Jr.
“My dad was known for his kindness and humor, and he just loved people,” daughter Vicki Simmons Hawarden, of Enid, said. “Wherever he went, he made friends, and everywhere I went, people would tell me how sweet he was, and how much they loved him. Those qualities, plus his intense drive, beautiful tenor voice and ability to learn almost any instrument, made him an extraordinary human and a great music educator.
“Helping his students grow and excel was his life’s work, along with his music theory, ‘Pulsing the Beat,’ which he co-authored with Edna Tims. As a father, he was always proud of our achievements and supportive of our failures, and I knew I was very much loved.”
Simmons and his wife Marjorie were parents of three daughters.
“My dad took wonderful care of his family, and I was blessed to grow up always feeling loved and secure,” daughter Rhonda Simmons Rundel, of Yukon, said. “Even at a young age living here in Enid, I knew how passionate he was about music and his students. He wanted them to have musical experiences they would remember for a lifetime. He influenced many lives far beyond our own home.
“Coming back to help run Tri-State was a joy for him, and he proudly began its transition into the digital age. He leaves a beautiful legacy, having inspired many others in both life and in their musical careers.”
Her father’s support is one thing daughter Timarie Simmons, of Snoqualmie, Wash., remembers.
“Dad was the kind of man who raised me knowing and believing that I could be anything I wanted to be,” she said. “He supported every dream I had, was a safe place in times of turmoil, and always, always made sure I knew I had his unconditional love.”
Simmons had a 22-year career teaching vocal and instrumental music in Kansas and Oklahoma. In Northwest Oklahoma, he taught at Longfellow Junior High School in Enid, Medford and Fairview.
“Mr. Simmons was a great inspiration to me personally and to many other young musicians,” said Ernie Hills, of Newport, Ore., and retired music professor at Sacramento State University. “He was always so joyous in his music making and was able to bring out the very best in each of us. In my opinion, he was the embodiment of a consummate music educator. I can think of no higher praise.”
Simmons also served with Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association for 16 years, regulating speech, debate and vocal and instrumental music for state high schools.
He was managing director of the Tri-State Music Festival from 2003 to 2008. In 2022, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work with Tri-State from Debbie Lambert, who then was managing director of the festival and who followed Simmons in that position.
“I learned so much from my Uncle Junior about music and life,” said Cheryl Bennett Patterson, a niece and former student. “I’m not a good singer, so he didn’t really encourage me to stay in choir, but he did tell me I had ‘perfect pitch’ on the trumpet, so I focused on band. As an adult, I worked for him during the Tri-State Music Festival. Everything he did, he did with excellence. Everywhere he went, he created award-winning bands. Every student he worked with became a friend for life.”
Simmons was state chairman of the American School Band Directors Association in 1980; president of Oklahoma Bandmasters Association in 1975; and served as All-State Band chairman for one year. He was inducted into the Band Masters Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Oklahoma Music Educators Hall of Fame in 2002. He also served as an adjudicator for band contests in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri.
Randy Hurst, owner of Midwest Music in Enid, remembered Simmons for raising the standards for state music programs.
“He also started the Oklahoma Music Adjudicators Association where with his help, I have been the executive director for over 30 years,” Hurst said. “It was his musical knowledge, persistence and foresight to start the OMAA that helped raised the bar for our music programs in the state.”
The funeral for Simmons will be 2 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Enid, with the Rev. Devon Krause officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
“I always admired his work ethic,” said Marjoriee Bennett Simmons, his wife of 62 years and a retired elementary school teacher. “As a director he knew what sounded good and worked hard to get it out of his band or chorus. He loved his students and always wanted the best for them. We had 62 years together, and I will miss him greatly.”
