Inaugural Simmons Dinner honors Dr. Virginia Connally

(Abilene, Texas) — On Thursday night, Sept. 6, Hardin-Simmons University celebrated the life and legacy of university founder Dr. James B. Simmons. The James B. Simmons Dinner is a new occasion for HSU. This celebration is meant to honor the legacy of Dr. Simmons, and to honor an alumnus with the Simmons Award.

Simmons Medallion

The Simmons Award will be given to alumni who “use their God-given talents and abilities to break down barriers in their respective fields, and who demonstrate acts of determination or courage.”

The award will be given in the form of a medallion that has images of James Simmons, Mary Simmons, and their son Robert.

This original piece of art was created by award-winning sculptor Dr. Steve Neves and graphic designer Todd Clower.

Dr. Virginia Connally graduating from medical school in 1937.

This year the university gave the first award to one of its most well-loved alumni, Dr. Virginia Connally. A 1933 graduate of Hardin-Simmons, she went on to LSU School of Medicine and graduated with her M.D. in 1937. She then returned to Abilene in 1940, to become the first female doctor in the city. Since that time Dr. Connally has been well-known for her love of missions work, her First Baptist church family, and her beloved alma mater.

The inaugural Simmons dinner was an extraordinary event full of speeches and presentations in honor of both Simmons and Connally.

Carolyn Newman singing to Virginia Connally during the Simmons Dinner

The evening also included a special song by Carolyn Newman in honor of Dr. Connally’s amazing 105-year long life. More than 500 attendees were also invited to learn more about Dr. Simmons and Dr. Connally’s lives through two biopics. Those videos are available to watch below and will share the legacy of these two people with a new generation of the HSU family.

As a part of the Simmons Dinner, HSU printed a newly expanded edition of the 2011 Virginia Connally biography, Virginia Connally, MD: Trailblazer and Woman of Faith by local writer Loretta Fulton. Copies of the special edition, both hardback and paperback, are available for purchase from the Alumni office.

Proceeds from the dinner will go to the Dr. Virginia Connally Endowed Scholarship. If you are interested in donating to this fund, you can donate here. The Simmons Award will join several other awards, such as the Keeter Service Award, Distinguished Alumni Award, Outstanding Young Alumni Award and Honorary degrees the university gives to prestigious alumni.

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