Georgia District Governor
David Simmons

Club: Cordele

David Simmons was born in Biloxi, Mississippi. His father served in the U.S. Air Force and the family traveled often in David’s early life. Besides Biloxi, MS, the family also resided in Athens, Greece; and Oscoda, Michigan; before moving to Warner Robins, Georgia in 1973.  David is a graduate of Warner Robins High School. While in high school, he was a member of the Warner Robins National Championship football team in 1981. After graduating from high school in 1984, David attended Georgia Southern University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1989. Upon his graduation from GSU, he moved to Cordele, Georgia. While in Cordele, David attended Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Georgia. He graduated from there with a Master’s Degree in Education in 1998. It was in Cordele where he met his future wife, Monica. They have been married for 30 years and have two sons; T.J. and Rob. Monica is the Executive Director of the Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce. David’s parents are; Bobby and Nancy Simmons of Bonaire, Georgia and Gail and Ed Elvington of Macon, Georgia. Last but not least, David and Monica have five fur babies; four dogs (Biscuit, Ginny, Marley, and Buddy) and one cat (Hoppy).

David was employed with the Georgia Department of Corrections from 1989 until 2001. While working for the GDC, he worked as a probation officer, fugitive investigator, and an instructor at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. In 2001, he started his employment with the Federal Court system as a U.S. Probation Officer. He was employed in the Middle District of Georgia for over 20 years. On December 31, 2021, David retired from the federal government. Besides full-time employment, he has also worked as a contract employee covering high school football games for a television station, WSST in Cordele, Georgia. David has commentated on close to 300 high school football games in South Georgia. David also works with a radio station, WKTF, in Cordele covering local high school sporting events as well as hosting a weekly radio show.

David joined the Cordele Kiwanis Club on April 5, 1990. During the past 34 years, he has served the local club on the Board of Directors for more than seventeen years. David was club president in 1993-94 and has been club secretary since 2011. He served as a Lt. Governor in 1998-99 and has been a Georgia District trainer since 2001. In addition to serving as a certified trainer, David has also served as the following District Committee chair: Club Administration in 2004-05 and 2005-06, International Convention in 2009-10, and Training Chair in 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2020-21, and 2021-22. He served on the Georgia District Foundation from 2012 until 2016, serving as the President of the Foundation in 2014-15. David currently serves on the District Finance Committee. He served as the Vice-Governor of the Georgia District during the 2022-23 Kiwanis year and Georgia District Governor-Elect in 2023-24. In addition to the Cordele Kiwanis Club, David is a Charter Member of the Kiwanis Club of Warner Robins, having joined on September 1, 2019. He served as the President of the Warner Robins Kiwanis Club in 2023-24. David and Past Governor Dewey Smith were instrumental in building the Kiwanis Club of Dooly County, which was Chartered on February 1, 2024.

David was awarded the Governor’s Leadership Medallion in 1999. He is the recipient of the George F. Hixson Fellowship on November 9, 2000; the Henry C. Heinz Award on August 4, 2015; the Kiwanis International Centennial Award in 2015; and the Walter Zeller Fellowship on October 14, 2016. Additionally, David has been recognized with the Governor’s Award by two Past Governors of the Georgia District of Kiwanis, Dewey Smith and Brent Leslie.
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David has been very active with the youth in Crisp County. He coached baseball with both the Little League and Recreation Department for a total of 12 years and also was a soccer coach for four years. He served on the Cordele Little League’s Board of Directors for nine years and was League President in 1998. Besides coaching, David has also previously helped as a baseball umpire, football referee, and he served on the Recreation Board of Directors for a two-year period. He has been a member of Cordele First United Methodist Church since 1991. He has served as a Sunday school teacher, has been a member of the Administrative Board, and he presently sings in the Chancel Choir. David also chaired the Upward Sports program when it was a part of the Church’s outreach program from 2012 until 2018.

David has been a Master Mason with Cordelia Masonic Lodge #296 since 2000. He has served in various officer positions within the Lodge and is presently the Lodge’s Secretary. David is a 32 degree KCCH Scottish Rite Mason and a York Rite Mason. David is a member of the Cordele-Crisp Chamber of Commerce and is a shareholder for the Green Bay Packers with the National Football League.