Assistant Governor - Area 2

Bill Simmons was born in Wilson, NC June 16, 1936 to William A. Simmons and Janie Jackson Simmons. He lost his Father to a traffic accident in 1938 and his Mother to sickness in 1949. He grew up living with two different sisters of his Mother in Greenville and Elizabeth City, North Carolina until he graduated from High School in 1954. He received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1958 and was commissioned in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps. Additional education included a Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Civil Engineering from Stanford University.

Bill served 23 years in the Navy, rising to the rank of Commander. He had a number of duty assignments at various naval activities and in Washington, D. C. He served in Vietnam as Operations Officer and Executive Officer of two different Navy Seabee Battalions. Incident to this service he was awarded the Bronze Star and Navy Achievement Medals. He subsequently commanded a Seabee Battalion.

Bill retired from the Navy in 1982 and embarked on his second career, starting as Project Manager for a large metals manufacturing company. Following a general slowdown in this business in 1983, he left the Chicago area and moved to Anne Arundel County, Maryland where he worked with the Department of Utilities as Utility Engineer. In 1985 he relocated to Sanford, Florida where he served as Director of Engineering and Planning. In 1991 he became City Manager, as well as City Engineer. Bill retired again in 1998 and relocated to Greenbrier, Arkansas.

In 1988 Bill was invited to become a Rotarian in Sanford and has continued without any break in service, transferring to the Conway Rotary Club in 1998. He has served as District Foundation Chair, Assistant District Governor three years, and District Simplified Grants Committee. Bill served as Conway Rotary Club President 2006/2007. Bill is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Rotary Foundation Benefactor. He is District 6170 District Governor Nominee for 2010-2011. He presently has 15 years Prefect Attendance.

Bill is married to the former Elizabeth Ann Robinette, of El Paso, Arkansas. He has two daughters by a previous marriage, Sandra and Kristen and two grandchildren, all of whom live in the Boston area.