In Memory of Roy W. Simmons
“The only way to truly appreciate what you have is to work for it.”
–Roy W. Simmons (1916-2006)

Our community recently lost a true giant. Roy W. Simmons passed away on May 9th at the age of 90. Though small in stature, Roy Simmons made a huge impact on banking, finance and our community for more than 50 years.

Roy was born in Portland, Oregon on January 24, 1916 to Henry Clay Simmons and Ida Mae Mudd Simmons. Roy’s mother died when he was 8 years old. By that time, his father, in his late 70s, had become too ill to care for him, so Roy went to live with a family friend, Blanche Davis Reese. They soon moved to Salt Lake City.

Roy developed industrious habits at a young age. He had many small jobs to help his family. As a young boy, he delivered flowers and worked at a gas station. Later, he started a neighborhood vegetable route, getting fresh produce at the farmers’ market at 4:30 in the morning and selling it door-to-door from his hand-pulled wagon. On weekends he hoed onions for a local farmer.

During the four decades under his leadership, Zions Bancorporation grew from an institution with approximately $150 million in assets, 110 employees, and four branch office in Salt Lake City to a company with eight banks, $45 billion in assets, over 10,000 employees, and more than 450 offices throughout 10 Western states.

Today, we enjoy quality local theater, arts, health care and higher education thanks to his positive influence.

While Roy’s business and community pursuits were unequaled, some say that the real measure of a person is his family and Roy more than anything else will be remembered as a husband of Tibby and the father to Julia, Elizabeth, Matthew, L.E., Harris and David. As a devoted husband and father, he struck a successful balance between his family and his career that we all hope to achieve.

Used by permission of A. Scott Anderson
President and CEO, Zions Bank


As a foundation we would like to express our gratitude to Roy for his years of involvement with the DATC and his dedication to provide opportunities to those in our community. The generous donation made by Roy and Tibby for the development of the new entrepreneurship center will be an economic jewel in Kaysville and the greater Northern Utah area for years to come. Thank you Roy!