Dr. Sidney Herman Simpson, 97, of Springdale, AR, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Saturday, December 21, 2024.  He was born on May 8, 1927, in Pine Bluff, AR, to parents Etta (Harper) and Thomas M. Simpson. After serving in WWII, he received his B.S.E. and began his professional career as Head Basketball Coach at Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and then serving as Basketball Coach at Denison High School, (Texas) before beginning his college coaching career as Asst. Coach for both Basketball and Football teams and Dean of Men at McMurry College (now University), Abilene, Texas. While at McMurry, Sid and his family lived in both Gold Star and Hunt dorms where he was Dorm Director. When Grayson County College (Denison, Texas) was being built in 1964, Sid was recruited to establish the athletic department and become their first Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director. He obtained his Ph.D. from North Texas State University. Dr. Simpson was then hired as the first Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director for Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas.  One of his most extraordinary hires as Athletic Director was a high school basketball coach from El Paso, Nolan Richardson.

In 1978, Sid and Hattie returned to Arkansas where he served as Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Commissioner. He was later hired as Athletic Director at University of Central Arkansas for two years before taking a job as Athletic and Activities Director for Pine Bluff High School. During this time, Dr. Simpson assembled coaching staff at P.B.H.S. which garnered 39 conference and state championships as well as being Co-Founder and consultant for establishing the King Cotton Basketball Tournament that continues to bring our nation's best high school teams to play in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Sid is the first recipient of The Hayes and Kaaren Biggs Humanitarian Award (2013) nominated by Nolan Richardson.

Dr. Simpson was inducted into the Arkansas Activities Association Athletic Directors Hall of Fame in 2021 and the Grayson College Athletics Hall of Fame that same year. Sid was an incredibly humble man, but he felt deeply honored by these awards. Dr. Simpson was first and foremost a devoted family man. He was blissfully married to the love of his life, Hattie, and was the most amazing father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He had a beautiful voice that not only performed at church and college events but echoed in every family car trip as they sang songs together rather than play the radio. The family will miss gathering around to hear him sing O Holy Night every Christmas Eve. He stood up for those who were treated unfairly, took chances on people that others passed over, saw potential in everyone, and served God every chance he got. Sid's loving devotion to his family is the most important legacy he leaves. His sense of humor and loving presence will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and his beloved wife of 69 years, Hattie (Culpepper) Simpson.

Sid is survived by his daughter, Margie Bordovsky and her husband David of Springdale, Arkansas with whom he resided; his son, Mike Simpson and his wife Sara of Dripping Springs, Texas; four grandchildren, Mariah Bordovsky, Bryna Bess Burkemper, Callie Simpson Arnold, and Talmadge Simpson; and six great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on February 8, 2025, 1:30 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, Rogers, AR. Please email grace2grow@cox.net if you would like to receive a link to attend the service online. The family hopes you will consider donating at www.nwaballettheatre.org under The Sid Simpson Memorial Fund. All donations will be split between his daughter's organization, NWA Ballet Theatre, and Nolan Richardson's organization, The Yvonne Richardson Memorial Charity, both of which are non-profit 501(c)3 organizations.