John F. Simms

{{short description|American politician}} {{For|the English soccer player|Jack Simms}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder |name=John F. Simms |image = John F. Simms (New Mexico Governor).jpg |caption= |order1=16th |office1=Governor of New Mexico |term_start1=January 1, 1955 |term_end1=January 1, 1957 |lieutenant1=[[Joseph Montoya]] |predecessor1=Edwin L. Mechem |successor1=[[Edwin L. Mechem]] |office2=Speaker of the [[New Mexico House of Representatives]] |term_start2=1949 |term_end2=1951 |preceded2=H. Vearle Payne |succeeded2=Calvin Horn |office3=Member of the [[New Mexico House of Representatives]] |term3=1947–1951 |birth_date={{birth date|1916|12|18|mf=y}} |birth_place=[[Albuquerque, New Mexico]], US |death_date={{death date and age|1975|4|11|1916|12|18}} |death_place=Albuquerque, New Mexico, US |resting_place=Fairview Memorial Park,<br/>Albuquerque, New Mexico |spouse=Ruth Reynolds (m. 1940–1975, his death) |children=5 |education=[[University of New Mexico]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br/>[[Yale Law School|Yale University]] ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]]) |profession=[[Lawyer|Attorney]], [[rancher]] |party= [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] |branch = United States Army<br>[[United States Army Air Forces]] |battles = [[World War II]] |signature = John F. Simms signature.png }}

'''John Field Simms Jr.''' (December 18, 1916 – April 11, 1975) was an American politician and lawyer from the state of [[New Mexico]] who served as the 16th [[governor of New Mexico]].

==Early life and education== Simms was born in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] on December 18, 1916. He graduated from [[New Mexico Military Institute]] in 1933 and from the [[University of New Mexico]] in 1937. In 1940, he received his [[bachelor of laws|LL.B.]] degree from [[Yale Law School]].

== Career == During [[World War II]], Simms joined the [[United States Army Air Forces]]. He served until the end of the war, primarily in England, and carried out staff assignments at [[Eighth Air Force]] headquarters and [[Air Materiel Command#Air Service Command|Air Service Command]] headquarters. He was promoted to [[Lieutenant colonel (United States)|lieutenant colonel]] in June 1945, and left the service soon afterwards. Simms practiced law in addition to owning and operating his family's ranching business.

Simms ran successfully for the [[New Mexico House of Representatives]] in 1946 and 1948. He was chosen to serve as [[Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives|Speaker]] in his second term, and served from 1949 to 1951. From 1950 to 1954, Simms was a member of the New Mexico Commission for Promotion of Uniform State Laws.

In 1954, Simms was the successful Democratic nominee for governor. He served one term, 1955 to 1957 and presided over an increasing federal presence in the state. He also worked to make meetings of the state legislature more public and attempted to make the state government more accessible with initiatives including answering his own office phone. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1956. After leaving office, Simms returned to his ranching interests and legal practice.

==Personal life== Simms was the son of Anne Clapton (Schluter) Simms and [[John F. Simms Sr.]] (1885–1954), who served as an associate justice of the [[New Mexico Supreme Court]]. In 1940, he married Ruth Reynolds (1915–1989), they were the parents of three sons and two daughters.

Simms died in [[Albuquerque, New Mexico]] on April 11, 1975. He was buried at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque.

The John F. Simms Building, which is a part of the [[New Mexico State Capitol]] complex, is named for him.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Green Energy Project - John F Simms Jr|url=https://www.generalservices.state.nm.us/green-energy-project-john-f-simms-jr.aspx|access-date=2020-11-05|website=www.generalservices.state.nm.us}}</ref>

In 1961 an episode of the television series [[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]], 'The Newborn', was filmed partially at his ranch according to the closing credits.

==References== {{Reflist}} *[https://www.nga.org/governor/john-field-simms/ John Field Simms Jr.] at National Governors Association *[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/simms-simonetti.html#141.86.84 John F. Simms Jr.] at The Political Graveyard

{{S-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Everett Grantham}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of New Mexico]]|years=[[1954 New Mexico gubernatorial election|1954]], [[1956 New Mexico gubernatorial election|1956]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[John Burroughs (governor)|John Burroughs]]}} {{s-off}} {{succession box |before=Edwin L. Mechem |title=[[List of governors of New Mexico|Governor of New Mexico]] |years=1955–1957 |after=[[Edwin L. Mechem]]}} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simms, John F.}} [[Category:Democratic Party governors of New Mexico]] [[Category:Democratic Party members of the New Mexico House of Representatives]] [[Category:1916 births]] [[Category:1975 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century American Episcopalians]] [[Category:20th-century members of the New Mexico Legislature]]