Left-Footed Kickers Don Simons and Jim Bilbie Practice for the Ann Arbor High School Football Team, September 1960 Photographer: Doug Fulton
Year:
1960
Ann Arbor News, September 27, 1960
Caption:
Something Different in Kicking: Extra-point kicking took an unusual twist at Ann Arbor High this fall when Coach Jay Sielstra discovered he had three left-footed kickers on the squad, one of them a drop-kicker to boot. Tackle Jim Bilbie (kicking above [this photo]) is the team's regular PAT man but Fullback Don Simons (watching) also can handle the job. Holding for Bilbie is Quarterback Howie Lippert. Drop-Kicker Rick White (below) startled the 3,000 fans at Kalamazoo's Angell Field last Friday when he was called upon twice to drop-kick for the extra point. He made good on one of them.
Ann Arbor High School Basketball Team, March 1961 Photographer: Duane Scheel
Year:
1961
Ann Arbor News, March 14, 1961
Caption:
Members of the Ann Arbor team are (left to right, standing) Coach Chuck Ritter, Roy Campbell, Squire Padgett, Bill Yearnd, Mike Staebler, Dennis Johnson, Todd Leonard, and Manager Bruce Holzhauer, plus (left to right, kneeling), Larry Lande, Jim Wall, Jerry Gerstler, Don Simons, Jim Warner and Doug Vaitkus. Missing at the time the photo was made were Ken Vaitkus and Chuck Menefee.
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Media
Old Neighborhood Reunion - A Film by Kameron Donald
In this documentary short, filmmaker Kameron Donald lets us spend a day at the 25th Old Neighborhood Reunion, a (mostly) annual gathering of former residents of Ann Arbor's Historically Black Neighborhood. Attendees eat, dance, and share memories of growing up in a very different Ann Arbor at a very different time.
Media
There Went The Neighborhood - Studio Interview: Russell Calvert
Russell Calvert attended Jones School from kindergarten through sixth grade in the post-WWII era. He recalls the strong influence of Black business owners like his father, Burgess Calvert, and Charlie Baker. He tells the story of “The Old Neighborhood” before it became known as Kerrytown.
This interview was filmed during the making of the documentary film There Went The Neighborhood: The Closing of Jones School, produced by the Ann Arbor District Library and 7 Cylinders Studio. More interviews are available in the There Went The Neighborhood Interview Archive.
Media
There Went The Neighborhood - State Theatre Interview: Don Simons
Don Simons was interviewed after a preliminary screening of the documentary film There Went The Neighborhood: The Closing of Jones School at the State Theatre on April 16, 2023. He recounts his experiences as a Black athlete in Ann Arbor.
More interviews are available in the There Went The Neighborhood Interview Archive.
Eric Nagler Celebrates During City Junior Golf Tournament Qualifying Round, August 1958 Photographer: Duane Scheel
Year:
1958
Ann Arbor News, August 26, 1958
Caption:
Does War Dance As Putt Drops: Eric Nagler goes into some kind of a dance as he sank his putt on the No. 4 green yesterday at the Huron Municipal Course as the Juniors engaged in their qualifying round in their annual city golf tournament. Back of Nagler is Don Simons and at the right is Dick Fisher.
Don Simons Tends the Flag During City Junior Golf Tournament Qualifying Round, August 1958 Photographer: Duane Scheel
Year:
1958
Media
There Went The Neighborhood - Audio Interview: Donald Simons
Donald Simons grew up on Fuller Street and attended Jones School as an elementary student in the 1950s. He recalls being encouraged by his sixth grade teacher Harry Mial and coach Andy Anderson. Mr. Simons went on to teach physical education.
More interviews are available in the There Went The Neighborhood Interview Archive.
Media
AACHM Oral History Excerpt: Don Simons
Donald L. Simons was born in 1943 and he grew up on Fuller Street in Ann Arbor. He attended Jones School, Ann Arbor High, and Eastern Michigan University. He was a starting football halfback and basketball co-captain in high school, and was recognized as athlete of the month. Mr. Simons recalls segregation and several incidents of discrimination in Ann Arbor. He is proud of his family, his work coaching at the Maxey Boys' Training School and Boysville, and co-hosting the annual neighborhood picnic for 25 years.
Media
AACHM Oral History: Don Simons
Donald L. Simons was born in 1943 and he grew up on Fuller Street in Ann Arbor. He attended Jones School, Ann Arbor High, and Eastern Michigan University. He was a starting football halfback and basketball co-captain in high school, and was recognized as athlete of the month. Mr. Simons recalls segregation and several incidents of discrimination in Ann Arbor. He is proud of his family, his work coaching at the Maxey Boys' Training School and Boysville, and co-hosting the annual neighborhood picnic for 25 years.