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SIMMONS, Frank W., Jr. [SRGP 92498] – The death of Frank W. Simmons, Jr., last Wednesday was a decided shock to Mansfield people. Having lived here since he was three years old, graduating from the High School in 1930, and always going about his duties so pleasantly and politely, he had earned a high degree of the respect of the citizens. Frank W. Simmons, Jr., met death by his own hand at Rollins College, Winter Park, Fla., about noon, Wednesday, March 30th. President Hamilton Holt telegraphed his parents as follows: " Am irrepressibly shocked and grieved at terrible tragedy that has befallen you and Rollins College. None of us can think of any reason for this, for the boy had fine scholastic record and was apparently having a successful life here, from every standpoint. Dean Engart will get in touch with you immediately, and will follow out your wishes in every particular. It there is anything I can do, please telegraph." Even before Dr. Holt’s telegram had arrived, Dean Engart had gotten through by telephone and made known what had happened. Frank had gone into the room of one of his schoolmates in Rollins Hall, the dormitory in which he lived, obtained his friend’s revolver and used it. At his home there is equal inability as at Rollins, to advance any motive for Frank’s act. He had left home the previous Saturday morning, after his Easter vacation, wired his people Monday morning of his safe arrival on Sunday evening, and had written them Monday evening, giving details of his return trip, and saying he would write again the last of the week. It is one of the unexplainable tragedies of life. Frank was born at Williamsport, January 20, 1912, the son of Frank W. and Stella Lownsberry Simmons. He had just returned to Rollins College, Florida, where he was a Sophomore, after spending the Easter vacation with his parents at Mansfield, In his letter home he spoke of the fine time he had had at home and of his looking forward to coming home for the summer vacation. At Rollins College he was business manager of the college paper, the Sandspar, and had won the admiration of the college for putting the paper on its feet financially. He stood high in his studies, and the many telegrams and letters from students and teachers at Rollins gave testimony of the esteem in which he was held. James H. Ottaway, editor-in-chief of the Sandspar, wired: "Please accept sincerest sympathy from me as Frank’s co-worker and his sincere friend. Frank brought the paper form a very unstable financial condition to the best in its history. I miss him severely as friend and as co-worker." The funeral held from the home of his parents last Saturday afternoon was largely attended and the floral tributes gave ample evidence of the esteem in which he was held. The Rev. Griffiths gave a beautiful service. Burial was in Prospect Cemetery. The following were the bearers: Frederick Simmons, Arthur Simmons, Bert Simmons, Will Simmons, John Harkness and Robert Alger. – Mansfield Advertiser, 6 April 1932, p.1
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