A. Lamar Simmons

Lamar Simmons, 92, died at 3 p.m. on June 20, 2013. A rock 'n' roll radio pioneer, Simmons was CEO of the top 40-rated radio station WLCS-AM 910, which was the first rock 'n' roll radio station in Baton Rouge. WLCS was known in the radio industry for its adventurous community promotions and was also featured in a story in Life magazine for one of its promotions inviting Aliens from Outer Space to land at City Park Lake. Simmons and his partners owned four radio stations: WLCS-AM and WQXY-FM in Baton Rouge, KQXY-FM in Beaumont, TX, and WWUN-AM in Jackson, MS. During his radio career, Simmons attended Harvard University's Broadcast Management School in Boston, MA, and was awarded the Pete Golsby Award by the Baton Rouge Ad Club. He was a member of the Baton Rouge Rotary Club. After selling the radio stations, Simmons took up running and ran in dozens of area road races. He enjoyed fishing, traveling and playing golf. Simmons became a weekend farmer in 1968 when he purchased a farm north of Clinton. For several years he raised Charolais and mixed-breed cattle and kept a vegetable garden at the farm. Simmons grew up in north Baton Rouge and attended Istrouma Baptist Church until he went into the Marines at the beginning of World War II. He served in the Pacific and participated in many of the major offensives in the Pacific, including Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. A graduate of Istrouma High School, he received his degree from LSU in Mass Communications from President George W. Bush in 2004. Simmons, oldest son of the late Lillie Belle and Shelton Simmons, is survived by his wife, Annie Walker Simmons; son, David Lamar Simmons Sr. and wife, Tommy, Waleska, GA; daughter, Carol Anne White; daughter, Janis Marie Swetman and husband, Dan; daughter-in-law, Tobey Miller Simmons, Mentone, AL; eight grandchildren, David Lamar Simmons Jr., Dallas, TX, Carl Simmons, Marietta, GA, Katie Swetman, New Orleans; Anna White Viger; Mollie White Euhus, Evanston, WY; Lisa Swetman, Washington, D.C.; Lauren White Keith, Fayetteville, NC; and Shelby Swetman, Tyler, TX; grandchildren, spouses and seven great-grandchildren. Simmons was also close to his wife Annie's son, Tony Walker and his wife Judy and their children, Drew and Meg; and granddaughters, Brandi Palmer and Gina Mills. Additional family members include Simmons' brothers, Gene Simmons and wife Gloria, and Jim Simmons and wife June. Simmons was preceded in death by his parents; first wife and mother of his children, Wessie Olivia Harvey Simmons; son, Steven Perry Simmons; son-in-law, Charles White; and brother Shelton Simmons. Visitation will be held at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 10 a.m. until funeral service at 11 a.m. and will be conducted by Pastor Herman Cowan. Interment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Visit www.resthavenbatonrouge.com to sign the online guestbook.