Dr. James B. Simmons Award
The Simmons Award is given to individuals who use their God-given talents and abilities to break down barriers in their respective fields, and who demonstrate significant acts of determination or courage.
2018 Recipient
Dr. Virginia Connally
Ada Virginia Hawkins was born December 4, 1912, in Temple, Texas. She graduated from Temple High School in 1929 and enrolled in what is now Hardin-Simmons University in 1930, living with an uncle, who was a local physician, and his wife.
Upon graduation in 1933, she went on to LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans as one of only three women in her class. She graduated with her M.D. in 1937 and served an internship and residency at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital.
In 1940, Dr. Virginia H. Boyd returned to Abilene to become the city’s first female physician. A small headline in the September 22, 1940, issue of the Abilene Reporter News simply stated, “Woman Doctor Opens Office.”
Dr. Virginia Connally, as she became known following marriage to local oilman Ed Connally, had a remarkable life and career full of world travel and a brush with Washington’s elite through her husband’s political involvement. Like Simmons, Dr. Virginia (Boyd)) Connally ’33, learned very early on that education has the ability to change lives. Dr. Connally experienced that change herself and she always encouraged others along the way. She used her knowledge to heal and with her deep faith that guided every endeavor she gained a love for missions that defined much of her life – finding that helping others was the best way to glorify the Lord.
2022 Recipient
Dr. Charles and Mrs. Roena Tandy
Charles C. Tandy was born March 16, 1929 in Abilene, Texas. He received his B.A. at Hardin-Simmons University in 1949 and his M.D. from Southwestern Medical School in 1953. Dr. Tandy served in the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon from 1953 to 1956 and shortly after discovered a passion for anesthesiology. In 1958, Dr. Tandy started working at the Methodist Medical Center of Dallas, becoming their second anesthesiologist on staff and later becoming Chief of Anesthesiology in 1968. He served in that role until 1993 when he became the Medical Director of the Ambulatory Surgery Center. He retired as anesthesiologist from Methodist Dallas after 54 years in 2012. Additionally, Dr. Tandy served on the Dallas City Council from 1983 to 1993.
Roena (Rainey) Tandy was born in Corsicana, Texas and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Over the years, she taught school, along with serving in her local church and on numerous boards and committees. Dr. Charles ’49 and Mrs. Roena Tandy married April 10, 1971, and are an embodiment of the Simmons spirit. Their lives have been dedicated to faith, education, and service.
Dr. James Simmons and his son, Dr. Robert Simmons, were responsible for the first library on campus, donating hundreds of beautiful, leather-bound books, now located on the second floor of the Richardson Library as a reminder of the resources available to students in the school’s early years. Like the Simmons family, the Tandys have donated precious items from their collection, enhancing the prestige of the library’s Rare and Fine Books Collection. The Tandy Bible Collection, dedicated to HSU on April 2, 2009, includes a 1455 leaf from the Gutenberg Bible and the Nuremberg Chronicle, plus a first edition of the Geneva Bible (1560), the Bible cited in the works of William Shakespeare and the first English Bible brought to North America. Combined, these major editions form a rare collection that traces the English Bible in the sixteenth century prior to the publication of the King James Version.
2024 Recipient
Senator James Lankford
James Lankford and his wife Cindy grew up and attended college in Texas, and each has a degree from a Texas Baptist school. They have been married more than 30 years and have two daughters, Hannah and Jordan. Before his service in Congress, James served students and families for more than 20 years, serving with both the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist Convention of Oklahoma. In Texas, James spent much of his time on Texas Baptist university campuses (including Hardin-Simmons University) leading in Super Summer and Youth Led Revivals. Later, in Oklahoma, he directed the Falls Creek Youth Camp, which is the largest youth camp in the United States with more than 51,000 individuals attending each summer. Senator Lankford’s faith, ministry, and service in Congress is similar to the life of Dr. Simmons, one of the founders of HSU.
James served four years in the U.S. House of Representatives until he was overwhelmingly elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, where he is Ranking Member of the Government Operations and Border Management Subcommittee. He believes that the federal government has an important role in our nation, but empowered families, individual people, and private businesses grow our economy and pass down our values. James was recognized as the Senate’s top-ranked “Taxpayers Friend” by the National Taxpayers Union for his strong record in support of lower taxes, limited government, and economic freedom. His annual Federal Fumbles report is a must-read in Washington, D.C., because of its commonsense solutions to the problems our federal government faces. He is recognized for his work toward increased personal freedom, economic growth, and religious liberty.