Patrolman Billy Simms

Billy Wayne Simms was born March 20, 1947 , in Clinton , Oklahoma , and died on April 18, 1986 , after being struck by two vehicles. Bill lived with his wife Donna, his son Matthew, and his daughter Melissa at 1410 Bluff Avenue in Fort Smith . On August 18, 2002 , Melissa Simms DeClue gave birth to a son (Michael Donovan) who was Bill’s first grandchild. Bill served his country in both the Coast Guard and the Navy. He was a charter member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #39, and belonged to the Cliff Terrace Assembly of God Church.

Patrolman Bill Simms was struck by a car after he had assisted a stranded motorist just inside the city limits of Fort Smith on Rogers Avenue near Barling. The tragedy occurred a few minutes before 9:00P.M. on a Friday. While on patrol Officer Simms observed a motorist stalled on Rogers Avenue , activated the emergency lights on his police unit, and assisted the motorist in getting the stalled car off the busy street. As Officer Simms was crossing Rogers Avenue , returning to his police unit, a westbound motorist hit him and knocked him into the path of an eastbound car. He was killed instantly. Bill was laid to rest in the National Cemetery in Fort Smith on April 21, 1986 . Patrolman Bill Simms was 39 years old.