Grinnell College Athletics

James R. Simmons '61 gained his spot in the hall of fame by virtue of his contributions in three sports; football, basketball, and track.  As a sophomore, Simmons earned a letter in football from his tight end position and was the second leading receiver with 11 catches. Jim immediately made his presence felt in basketball, posting averages of 12.5 rebounds and 14.1 points. His effort earned him MVP honors. In track Simmons ran on the record-setting mile relay team which clocked a 3:22.3 at the conference meet. During his junior year Jim blossomed on the gridiron, earning all-conference and third team Little All-America honors. He led the team in receiving with 31 catches for 270 yards. The Chicago native also lettered in basketball and track. Co-captain of the football team, Jim earned the most valuable lineman award during his senior season.  As the team's top receiver he grabbed all-conference and honorable mention All-America honors, and was drafted by the L.A. Rams. In basketball Simmons posted solid numbers with averages of 8.0 rebounds and 11.5 points. Recipient of advanced degrees from the University of Chicago and Brandeis, Simmons is a consultant for the Institute of Metropolitan Affairs at Roosevelt University in Chicago. He has been a minority affairs leader in that city. Still an active athlete, Jim this year was a member of the Senior Olympic basketball team and participated in the national tournament.