Commanding Officer 48th Highlanders of Canada 1976 – 1979
Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Simmons started his military career at the age of 12 by joining the Air Force Cadet Corps. At 14 he became active in RCSCC Nelson, rising to the rank of Chief Petty Officer in the Sea Cadets. Fortunate to be awarded a five month cruise on HMCS Quebec, he visited the Mediterranean and Western Europe as a member of that ship’s crew.
In 1956 Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons entered the Militia as an Officer Cadet under the COTC Command Contingent “A” Program and received his commission in September, 1958. As an Officer in Halifax’s Princess Louise Fusiliers (machine gun) he held positions as platoon commander, Adjutant and Assistant Training Officer.
A graduate of Dalhousie University, Halifax, with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree his civilian employment took him to Windsor, Ontario where he became a member of the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment in 1961. After filling a position as Company Commander for 18 months, he again returned to Nova Scotia and the PLF as Training Officer.
Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons joined the 48th Highlanders of Canada in November, 1966 and was accorded the honour of serving as Senior Ensign to the Colours during the Centennial Year.
Transferred to Halifax in 1970 by Canadian General Electric as Atlantic Provinces District Manager, Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons was posted, as a 48th Highlander, to the staff of the West Nova Scotia District as a Staff Officer, Operations and Training.
Returning to the 48th in October, 1972, he became a Company Commander prior to being appointed Deputy Commanding Officer in December, 1973 and Commanding Officer on 25 May 1979.
Married to Sheila, the Simmons have two children: Alison and Mark. They live in Waterloo, Ontario.
Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons was an executive with Willson Office Specialties in Toronto while he was CO. Later he moved to Waterloo where he became President and CEO of the Waterloo Furniture Company. He helped take the company public on the New York Stock Exchange and engineered the acquisition of companies in Taiwan, Holland, Michigan and North Carolina. He retired in 1996.
LCol Simmons was active in the Fort Henry Guard Association, where he was an Officer. He includes oil painting and photography as his hobbies.
