Willie Lee Simmons facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willie Lee Simmons
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| Commissioner for the Mississippi Transportation Commission for the Central District | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Dick Hall |
| Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 13th district | |
| In office January 5, 1993 – January 7, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Robert Crook |
| Succeeded by | Sarita Simmons |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Willie Lee Simmons
March 21, 1947 Utica, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rosie Sibley |
| Residence | Cleveland, Mississippi |
| Alma mater | Utica Junior College Alcorn State University (BS) Delta State University (EdS, MS) |
Willie Lee Simmons (born March 21, 1947) is an American politician. He has worked to improve his home state of Mississippi for many years.
He was a member of the Mississippi State Senate from 1993 to 2020. The Senate is a group of elected officials who make laws for the state. After that, he was elected to the Mississippi Transportation Commission. This group helps manage roads, bridges, and other transportation projects in Mississippi.
Before becoming a senator, Mr. Simmons worked to help people in the Mississippi Department of Corrections. He is a member of the Democratic Party. His daughter, Sarita Simmons, is also a senator in Mississippi.
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Early Life and School
Willie Lee Simmons was born on March 21, 1947, in Utica, Mississippi. He went to Utica Junior College to start his education.
In 1967, he earned a bachelor's degree in social science from Alcorn State University. Later, he continued his studies at Delta State University. There, he received two master's degrees. One was in guidance and counseling, and the other was in counseling and administration. Mr. Simmons also served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
His Career in Public Service
Mr. Simmons worked as a Deputy Commissioner for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. This means he helped manage the state's prison system. In 1975, he started a special program at the Mississippi State Penitentiary. This program helped people in prison get ready for life after they were released.
He also worked as a visiting professor at Delta State University. For a time, he worked for the U.S. Post Office too.
Serving in the State Senate
As a Democrat, Mr. Simmons decided to run for the Mississippi State Senate in 1992. He ran against Senator Robert Crook for the 13th district. This district included Sunflower and Bolivar Counties.
Many people were surprised when Mr. Simmons won the election. He received 54% of the votes, while Senator Crook received 46%. Senator Crook had been in the legislature for a very long time.
Mr. Simmons served in the Senate for 26 years. For eight of those years, he was the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. In this role, he helped make important decisions about roads and bridges.
He played a big part in fixing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Jackson. He also helped improve Highway 8 in Cleveland, Mississippi and the Highway 82 Bypass in Leland, Mississippi. During his time as chairman, he helped get about $5 billion for highways and other important projects.
Working on Transportation
In 2019, Mr. Simmons announced he would run for the Mississippi Transportation Commission. This happened after Dick Hall, who held the position, decided to retire.
Mr. Simmons won the election against Republican Mayor Butch Lee. He received 51.1% of the votes. He was sworn into his new job in January 2020. In 2023, he won reelection against Ricky Pennington. He received 55.2% of the votes. In 2024, he was named the chairman of the commission.
Family Life
Willie Lee Simmons is married to Rose Sibley Simmons. They have four children together. One of their children is Senator Sarita Simmons, who now represents the same 13th district that her father once did.
