The Tragic Legacy of Ronald Gene Simmons: Unraveling the Darkest Chapter in Arkansas History

Early Life and Military Career

Ronald Gene Simmons was born on July 15, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents Loretta and William Simmons. Tragedy struck early in his life when his father died of a stroke on January 31, 1943. Within a year, his mother remarried William D. Griffen, a civil engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This marriage led the family to relocate multiple times across central Arkansas, instilling a sense of transience in Simmons's formative years.

In 1957, Simmons dropped out of school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he was stationed at the Bremerton Naval Base in Washington. It was during this period that he met Rebecca Ulibarri, whom he married on July 9, 1960. The couple went on to have seven children over the next 18 years. After leaving the Navy, Simmons joined the U.S. Air Force in 1963, dedicating a total of 22 years to military service. He achieved the rank of master sergeant and was honored with several awards, including the Bronze Star and the Republic of Vietnam Cross.

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