# Kenneth Simonds > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Simonds > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kenneth_Simonds.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Simonds > Source revision: 1333672276 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American businessman and philanthropist (1935-2009)}} {{Infobox person | name = Kenneth Wayne Simonds | image = Kenneth Wayne Simonds.jpg | birth_date = May 5, 1935 | birth_place = Kingsport, TN | death_date = October 11, 2009 | death_place = Indian Wells, CA | years_active = 1958-1993 | employer = [IBM](/source/IBM), [Amdahl](/source/Amdahl_Corporation), [Teradata](/source/Teradata) | spouse = Sarah R. Simonds (1935) | children = 5 }} '''Kenneth Wayne Simonds''' (May 5, 1935 – October 11, 2009) was an American businessman and philanthropist.{{Cite web |url= http://obituaries.desertsun.com/obituaries/thedesertsun/obituary.aspx?n=Kenneth-Wayne-Simonds&pid=134444086 |title=Kenneth Wayne Simonds |work= The Desert Sun |date= October 15, 2009 |access-date= July 15, 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=8016853&privcapId=247781|website=bloomberg.com|access-date=2019-03-13|title=Stocks}} ==Life== He began his career in 1958 at [IBM](/source/IBM) and was the youngest IBM manager when promoted to [Green Bay](/source/Green_Bay%2C_Wisconsin), [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin). He left IBM in 1975 to become an executive with [Amdahl Corporation](/source/Amdahl_Corporation), starting as vice president of Western operations in 1975.{{Cite magazine |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fiYS7TkQGCUC&pg=PA12 |magazine= Computerworld |volume= IX |issue= 40 |page= 12 |title= 470V/6 Costs Less |date= October 1, 1975 |publisher= IDG Enterprise |access-date= July 15, 2017 }}{{Cite book|title=The Legend of Amdahl|last=Rodengen|first=Jeffrey L.|publisher=Write Stuff Enterprises Inc|year=2000|isbn=9780945903192|pages=35, 62}} He was promoted in 1976 to Vice President of [Product Support and Services](/source/Product_support) and promoted in 1979 to [Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations](/source/Senior_vice-president). In 1981, he was promoted to [Executive Vice President](/source/Vice_president) and [Chief Operating Officer](/source/Chief_operating_officer) where he would stay until briefly going into retirement in 1984. He was a member of the team which had led Amdahl from no revenue in 1975 to $800 million in revenue in 1984. He left retirement a year later, going to work for [Teradata](/source/Teradata) in 1985{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/big-data-was-a-big-mess-teradatas-jack-shemer-helped-sort-it-out-11581607135|title=Big Data Was a Big Mess; Teradata's Jack Shemer Helped Sort It Out|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=14 February 2020|last1=Hagerty|first1=James R.}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wgmey4obagC&q=kenneth+simonds&pg=RA1-PA87 |title=Executive Corner |department=Computer Industry |magazine=Computerworld |volume=XIX |issue=11 |page=87 |date=1985-03-18 |publisher=IDG Enterprise |language=en}} as [chief executive officer](/source/chief_executive_officer).{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-09-fi-175-story.html|title=Small Computer Company Signs Big Office Lease: Teradata's El Segundo Deal Is Valued at $100 Million|last=BROOKS|first=NANCY RIVERA|date=1989-10-09|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-01-31|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}} He stayed with Teradata, through its [initial public offering](/source/initial_public_offering) in 1987{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-08-07-fi-318-story.html|title=Teradata Corp., the leading manufacturer of high-performance... |newspaper=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)|date=7 August 1991 |language=en|access-date=2019-01-31}} and sale to [NCR Corporation](/source/NCR_Corporation) in 1991 for $250 million.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/08/business/making-a-difference-whirlwind-courtship.html|title=Making a Difference - Whirlwind Courtship|author=Stevenson|first=Richard W.|date=December 8, 1991|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215204841/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/08/business/making-a-difference-whirlwind-courtship.html|archive-date=February 15, 2018|pages=14}} [https://archive.org/details/twomentwovisions00andr/page/n1?q=kenneth+simonds+teradata Alt URL]{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JSVkkdmXWF4C&q=kenneth+wayne+simonds+teradata&pg=PP32 |title=Teradata to add optical storage |magazine=Computerworld |volume=XXIII |issue=19 |page=32 |date=1989-05-08 |publisher=IDG Enterprise |language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/440015991/|title=NCR, Teradata agree to $520m merger|date=December 3, 1991|work=The Boston Globe|publisher=Associated Press}} He retired shortly after that. == Personal life == === 1935-1975 === left|thumb|124x124px|Kenneth and his wife Sarah on their wedding day Kenneth Wayne Simonds was born to Pauline and Wayne Simonds May 5, 1935. In his earlier childhood, he was in [Boy Scouts](/source/Boy_Scouts_of_America).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/74991887|title=IT ISN'T ALL GLORY|last=B(?)nkley|first=E.|date=Feb 10, 1949|work=Kingsport Times|access-date=August 17, 2019|archive-date=August 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817221741/http://www.newspapers.com/image/74991887/|url-status=dead}} As a child he had a pet pig named "Monster." In 1949 he attended [Dobyns-Bennett High School](/source/Dobyns-Bennett_High_School) in [Kingsport, Tennessee](/source/Kingsport%2C_Tennessee){{Cite web|url=http://www.etsualumni.org/s/974/interior-template.aspx?sid=974&gid=1&pgid=1440|title=Mr. Kenneth W. Simonds*|access-date=2017-06-24}} where he played many sports including football and track. He graduated high school in 1953. He attended [George Washington University](/source/George_Washington_University) for a year on a football scholarship but later transferred to [East Tennessee State University](/source/East_Tennessee_State_University). He ran for University Student Body, while there.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/78736397|title=Simonds in Student Chief Race at ETSC|date=May 4, 1956|work=Kingsport Times|access-date=August 17, 2019|location=Kingsport, Tennessee|publication-place=JOHNSON CITY}} In 1957 graduated from with a BS in business. Later that year, he would meet his wife Sarah "Sally" Simonds in [IBM](/source/IBM) classes. In 1958 he married Sarah in [Columbus, Ohio](/source/Columbus%2C_Ohio). In 1959 their first child, Robert "Rob", was born and they went on to have four other children Cindy, David, Joe and Kenneth Jr. In 1975 they moved to [Los Altos, California](/source/Los_Altos%2C_California). Kenneth's eldest son, Robert, would also enter into the computer industry, joining Amdahl in 1985. === 1980-2009 and beyond === In the mid 1980s, the Simonds family moved to [Manhattan Beach, California](/source/Manhattan_Beach%2C_California) and after retirement from Teradata, they moved to [Indian Wells, California](/source/Indian_Wells%2C_California) in the [Coachella Valley](/source/Coachella_Valley) 1993. He was an assistant football coach for [Palm Desert High School](/source/Palm_Desert_High_School) during the 1999-2000 season. He died on October 11, 2009, at his home in [Indian Wells](/source/Indian_Wells%2C_California). His funeral was held at Southwest Church in Palm Desert. His resting place is [Indio, California](/source/Indio%2C_California). In 2015 his wife contributed one million dollars in his name to help fund the building of the football stadium at East Tennessee State University, a goal he had while alive.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wjhl.com/news/etsu-gets-1-million-gift-for-new-football-stadium_20180212062106764/969090287|title=ETSU gets $1 million gift for new football stadium|last=Smith|first=Josh|date=2015-09-04|website=WJHL|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-10}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the years following his death, Sarah Simonds has made considerable donations to some of Simonds' favorite charities in his honor. === Interest in the golf industry === In 1988, Simonds founded the Practice Tee Corporation and built three facilities and courses for practice. In 1996, he sold the business to Family Golf Centers, a public company. He opened The Golf Center in Palm Desert in 1995.{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Simonds |url=https://allpeople.com/kenneth+simonds_golf-center-at-palm-desert-us |access-date=2022-08-17}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.manta.com/d/mmp9vhx/golf-center-at-palm-desert|title=Golf Center at Palm Desert|website=Manta}} The Simonds family continued to own and operate the facilities for many years after until the mid-2000s when they sold it to [The First Tee](/source/The_First_Tee), where it continues to operate as a First Tee facility.{{Cite web|url=https://www.etsualumni.org/s/974/bp18/interior.aspx?sid=974&gid=1&pgid=1440|title=Mr. Kenneth W. Simonds*|website=etsualumni.org|language=en|access-date=2019-12-24}} ==Awards and legacy== In 1981 Simonds received the "Spirit of Life" Award from the [City of Hope Medical Center](/source/City_of_Hope_National_Medical_Center) as Humanitarian of the Year from the Technology Community. Simonds was a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year in Southern California in 1989. In 2000 Simonds was named [Outstanding Alumnus](/source/Alumnus) by East Tenn. State University.{{Cite web|url=https://dbhs.k12k.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=345742&type=d&pREC_ID=754068|title=2009 Inductees – Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees – Dobyns-Bennett High School|website=dbhs.k12k.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-06}} Simonds wanted to bring back the ETSU football team and in 2007 was prepared to make a large donation before the plans fell through.{{Cite web|url=https://forums.aseaofred.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1079|title=A Sea Of Red View topic - ETSU Mulling Return to Football|last=www.sitesplat.com|first=SiteSplat|website=forums.aseaofred.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-07-06}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Sports/2014/07/09/With-ETSU-football-back-BFFF-closes-it-doors|title=With ETSU football back, BFFF closes it doors|work=Johnson City Press|access-date=2018-07-06|language=en}} In 2008 he and his wife were awarded the Outstanding [Community Leader](/source/Community_leader) Award by the [College of the Desert](/source/College_of_the_Desert) Alumni Foundation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.codalumni.org/hall-of-fame/2008-winners/|title=2008 AWARDEES |website=College of the Desert Alumni Association |language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-06}} In 2009, Simonds was posthumously inducted into the Dobyns-Bennett Alumni Association Hall of Fame.{{Cite news|url=http://www.timesnews.net/News/2009/10/24/D-B-Alumni-Hall-of-Fame-starts-with-five-honorees|title=D-B Alumni Hall of Fame starts with five honorees|work=Kingsport Times-News|access-date=2018-07-06|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.etsu.edu/accent/2015/march/dpt_chancellors_award.aspx|title=Accent|last=Hill|first=J.|website=etsu.edu|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-06|archive-date=2018-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706075038/https://www.etsu.edu/accent/2015/march/dpt_chancellors_award.aspx|url-status=dead}} In 2011, the Athletic performance center at College of the Desert was opened, named after him.{{Cite web|url=https://foursquare.com/v/kenneth-w-simonds-athletic-performance-center-cod-athletic-weightroom/4dc2f5c2e4cd169dc60e9e76|title=Kenneth W. Simonds Athletic Performance Center (COD Athletic Weightroom)|website=Foursquare|access-date=2018-07-06}} In 2015 Simonds was posthumously awarded the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Philanthropy by [Tennessee Board of Regents](/source/Tennessee_Board_of_Regents) member Parker Smith as well as his wife for their donations given to ETSU.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tbr.edu/news/on-campus/tbr-chancellors-award-philanthropy-presented-simonds-march-5-2015|title=TBR Chancellor's Award for philanthropy presented to Simonds|date=2015-03-05|work=Tennessee Board of Regents|access-date=2018-07-06|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.wjhl.com/news/etsu-gets-1-million-gift-for-new-football-stadium_20180212062106764/969090287|title=ETSU gets $1 million gift for new football stadium|last=Smith|first=Josh|date=2015-09-04|work=WJHL|access-date=2018-08-18|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In 2015 Simonds' wife Sarah and their children Ken Jr., David and Joseph were presented with a football signed by current ETSU football players at halftime of a game. Kenneth and his family are honored outside of the new ETSU stadium with plaques along with the other donors.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} ==See also== * ''The Legend of Amdahl'' by Jeffrey L. Rodengen (ISBN 9780945903192.) ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Simonds, Kenneth}} Category:1935 births Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:IBM people Category:Teradata Category:People from Kingsport, Tennessee Category:2009 deaths --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kenneth Simonds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Simonds) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Simonds?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.