Jack Simms (1926-2016) was an Auburn Professor of Journalism from 1974 until his retirement in 1992. He was originally from Corvallis, Oregon and he moved with his family at age eleven to Auburn, Alabama, which is where he grew up, attended school and college. After his degree in English and Journalism from A.P.I. in 1949, Simms earned his Master’s degree in journalism from LSU. In 1951, Simms worked as a reporter and journalist for the Associated Press until 1974 when he returned to Auburn to head of the newly formed Journalism department. It was under Simms tenure as department head that the journalism program at Auburn University became nationally accredited. Simms was also a proud Marine and World War Two veteran. Simms was named the 2010 Distinguished Veteran by the City of Auburn and was on the Alabama honor flight to Washington, D.C., that year to commemorate the memorial of Iwo Jima. Jack Simms also co-authored the book, Auburn: A Pictorial History of the Loveliest Village with Mickey Logue and the book is now in its fourth printing.