Lee F. Simmons grew up on an Alabama farm with no running water or electricity, and he would go on to become the first African-American steward aboard Air Force One, serving four U.S. presidents during a career in presidential aviation and in the personal orbit of the men who led the country. He died in May 2018 at age 87, but this year his story is reaching a wider audience through two books written by his son, Victor Simmons.
From Nymph, Alabama to Akron's Factory Floors
Simmons was born in Nymph, Alabama, and lived on a farm before moving at age 14 to live with his father in Akron, Ohio, where he later graduated from West High School, according to a video interview and corroborated by his obituary from Fitzhenry Wiefels. He later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, the obituary states. That path from rural poverty to industrial Akron eventually put him on a trajectory toward one of the most exclusive assignments in American military aviation.
Once in the Air Force, Simmons became a key crew member aboard presidential aircraft, a role he held until receiving an honorable discharge in 1977, per the same obituary. As reported by WJLA, Simmons served aboard Air Force One under Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford, witnessing history firsthand across a career spanning multiple administrations. His service also unfolded across multiple presidential administrations.
A Presidential Connection That Outlasted His Uniform
Simmons's work aboard presidential aircraft was part of his military service. Following his 1977 discharge as part of the presidential transition team, Simmons relocated to Palm Desert, California, where he went on to serve as a personal staff assistant to former President Gerald R. Ford, according to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation. The relationship with Ford, in other words, didn't end when Simmons left the military — it followed him into civilian life on the West Coast.
Son's Books Preserve a Groundbreaking Career
Victor Simmons has spent this year putting his father's story into print. In June, he published “The Lee F. Simmons Story: America's First African-American Air Force One Steward” through Mynd Matters Publishing, a 56-page biographical work documenting his father's military service and the barriers he broke, according to listings on Google Books. He followed that in July with a companion children's title, “Life Lessons from Air Force One: Growing Up Simmons,” aimed at readers ages 7 to 10 and focused on how military discipline shaped the Simmons household, per Google Books.
Victor Simmons joined Good Morning Washington to share his father's story, telling the program he hopes the book will inspire others to preserve and share their family legacies for future generations, per WJLA. On the program, he discussed the importance of documenting family history and what it was like growing up in the DMV with a father connected to significant national moments, WJLA reports. The new book, according to that same report, captures stories, experiences and lessons from decades of service aboard the presidential aircraft.
From Military Ethos to Executive Leadership Coaching
Today, Victor Simmons works as a senior human resources executive and leadership coach, according to WKYC. The station connects his work to his father's legacy.
