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Fred A. Simon was first exposed to the martial arts as a child in 1945 while living in New York City. A resident of the apartment was doing a strange exercise. He told the boys to come and join him and he would teach us a different way to defend ourselves. In 1956 Mr. Simon was drafted into the United States Army, and while still in service he was first introduced to the art of Tae Kwon Do. Having been honorably discharged from the Army, Mr. Simon returned to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas; where he was hired as an elementary school teacher. With a desire to continue pursuing the martial arts, he began studying the Japanese system of Okinawa Shotokan under Richard Sapp and Richard Haliburton. Shortly thereafter, in 1962, Fred A. Simon was introduced to Jhoon Goo Rhee at Rice University; and began training in the art of Tae Kwon Do. Over the next several years Mr. Simon would travel to Galveston, Houston and several Summers to Washington, C.D. to attend periodic training sessions with Grand Master Rhee. It was also during this same time that Master Rhee told Mr. Simon about Mr. Pat Burleson in Fort Worth. Mr. Simon's sister-in-law and her husband (Edna and Alvin Langley) lived there. So, on their next visit in May of 1962, Mr. Simon met Mr. Burleson. Mr. Burleson extended an invitation to Mr. Simon to practice at this school and come to the front door to enter. You see, this was during the time of Jim Crow law. Mr. Simon embarked on a lifelong friendship with Mr. Burleson. Mr. Burleson told his students if they did not want to study during the same time Mr. Simon was there, that they may leave and not come back. In 1968, Grand Master Jhoon Rhee promoted Mr. Simon to Black Belt. Incidentally, Mr. Simon was the first African American Black Belt under Master Jhoon Rhee in Texas. Mr. Simon was the first person to have a Jhoon Rhee school in Beaumont, Texas; which Master Rhee gave Mr. Simon permission to do so before he became a Black Belt in 1968. A legend in Texas Sport Karate, Mr. Simon achieved a reputation for developing some of the best-trained stylists and fiercest contact competitors across Texas and where ever they traveled. The students of Mr. Simon, and families are a tribute to his legacy, either by their accomplishments or their contribution. Mr. Simon's oldest active student, Billy "Little Red" Singletary was in the original class that included Gary Jones, Sammy Parish, Charles Washington (deceased) and his brother, Jimmy Singletary, Mrs. Bonnie Bauer and Katy Weisbach. Younger students who dominated the amateur circuit in the 70's were the Pierson sisters, Sandy and Cessy, along with Anthony "Tiger" Conner, Joey Park, Charles Gibbs Jr., Alicia Allison and Rebecca Bertrand; Ms. Bertrand is still with Mr. Simon, and teaches the Wednesday night class. Mr. Simon inspired a loyalty in the family members of his students as evidenced by their continuing contributions to the school and it's efforts. Cissy and Big Jim Park, Joan and John Pierson, Dr. and Mrs. Harper, Hank and Wanda Funchess provided transportation and Bernadine Conner-Perkins provided the food on the trips to the tournaments. Tim Funchess is the acting CEO of Simon's Institute of Tae Kwon Do. The Langley family of Fort Worth (Alvin, Edna, and Kevin) has provided lodging for overnight stays in the area since 1970 and still do. The students love the great meals that Mrs. Langley prepares. They also assisted with the Spindletop Open Karate Championships for 30 years. A number of students have gone on to open their own martial arts school. The most successful of these is D.E. Chambers, who owns and operates several school in the Houston area. In the midst of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, another of Mr. Simon's students emerged to the forefront of national media attention. Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell, affectionately known as "Dr. Bones" in class, was stationed at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. His office was the point of impact by the high-jacked airliner. Lt. Col. Birdwell was featured on several nationally televised programs for having been the soldier, severely burned and on his way into surgery, which prompted President Bush to hold a salute until he could return it. Apparently obvious through the success of his students, Mr. Simon has had a continuing effect on the lives of thousands, now scattered throughout the country and in all walks of life. However, his personal achievements are equally impressive. He is a founding member of the Amateur Organization fo Karate (A.O.K.), the oldest martial arts organization in the United States. he has also promoted his own tournament, the Spindletop Open Karate Championships, for 31 consecutive years. On October 5, 2002, the World Martial Arts Ranking Association, in an exam conducted by Pat Burleson, promoted Fed A. Simon to 9th Degree Black Belt. Having devoted all of his adult life to the development of his martial arts career, he did so while simultaneously balancing his time and talent with a career as an educator in the Beaumont Independent School District. His success as an educator and a martial arts instructor has gained him numerous awards, most notably a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to him by the A.O.K. and a Congressional Certificate of Achievement, awarded to him by the United States House of Representatives. During the course of his martial art career, and throughout all of his accomplishments, there have been many people who have truly been an inspiration and positive influence on Mr. Simon, however, none as profoundly as his wife Gene Simon. For over 44 years, Gene has endured the hardships, and made the sacrifices associated with being a martial artist's wife. yet, she has continuously provided her support and encouragement and shared in the success of her husband. All of Mr. Simon's achievements can be attributed to the unwavering love and devotion of his devout wife, Gene Simon. Having retired from the school district after 43 years, Fred Simon now devotes all of his time to his martial arts school, training students, new and old. That's also where you can find him doing what he has always done: training and practicing, unrelenting, for hours each day. Holding closely to the teaching and philosophy of his instructor, Grand Master Jhoon Rhee, Mr. Simon continues to "hunt for new maximums." The most recent certificate of rank for Fred A. Simon was in the form of a specialized plaque, with the actual certificate being printed on a rough edged metal front. It cannot be duplicated or copied. The information on the certificate contains the following: Certificate # 00516 Dated October 5th, 2002 Presented by the World Martial Arts Ranking Association The exam was conducted by and the certificate signe by J. Pat Burleson. The certificate confers upon Fred A. Simon the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt Honorary Directors of the World Martial Arts Ranking Association, listed on the certificate are as follows: Steve Armstrong, Jim Harrison, Joe Lewis, Gene Le bell, J. Pat Burleson, Chuck Norris, Bob Wall, Jhoon Goo Rhee, Robert Trias, Bill Wallace, Edmund Parker This certificate of rank may be confirmed by the examiner, J. Pat Burleson. And, I Fred A. Simon due hereby attest, that the information provided above is true and correct and does in fact appear on an official certificate of rank. |
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HALL OF FAME |