Thomas Shirley Simons, Sr. (March 12, 1897 – August 1, 1963), commonly known as Shirley Simons was a prominent architect of Tyler, Texas. He was born in 1897 at Taylor, Texas, and raised in Fort Worth, Texas.[1] He graduated from Rice Institute in 1919 with a Bachelor of Science in architecture.[2] He also served in the field artillery during World War I from September through November 1918.[3]
After practicing with William Ward Watkin in Houston, Simons moved to Lufkin, Texas in 1922 where he established his own architecture practice.[1] In the late 1920s, he moved his architectural practice to Tyler, Texas. He remained active as an architect in Tyler until his death in 1963.[4][5] Shirley's three sons (T. Shirley Simons, Jr., Edwin Simons, and Watson Townes Simons) later joined his architectural practice.[1][6]
A number of Simons' works, including the Tyler City Hall, San Augustine County Courthouse and Jail, and Austin Daily Tribune Building, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7][8]
- ^ a b c "NRHP nomination form for Azalea Residential Historic District" (PDF). p. 8 of 67.
- ^ Rice University General Announcements. Rice Institute. 1921–1922.
- ^ The Rice Institute Pamphlet. William M. Rice Institute. January 1919. p. 78.
- ^ Susan Guthrie (April 7, 2009). "City to host ceremony to unveil Half Mile of History stones in downtown". City of Tyler, Texas.
- ^ Cindy Mallette (October 23, 2008). "Tyler's Half-mile of History Honors Local Architect". Tyler Paper.
- ^ Edwin Holt (March 15, 2011). "Simons Says "Build The Hospital"". Holt Colorin Box.
- ^ Angelina County MRA
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.