Alumnus Selects Kitchen to Honor Mother

July 29, 2005

As Ralph Simmons ’54 browsed through naming opportunities for the newly-proposed restoration and expansion of the Ogletree House, one room jumped from the list.

As a donor at the Special Gift level, Simmons had the opportunity to name the executive director’s office, the entryway foyer, the courtyard fountain, or kitchen.

He chose the kitchen.

And while Simmons is the first to admit that may seem odd to others, he had a perfect reason for doing so.

"I wanted to honor my mother, and many of my fondest memories of my mother are of her cooking,” Simmons said.

The kitchen will be named the Ralph T. Simmons and Linnie Cockrell Simmons Kitchen in honor of Simmons and his mother.

Simmons, who served as president of the Association in 1974-1975, is a member of the Ogletree House Campaign Committee.

"This campaign is long overdue,” Simmons said. “The Powell Ogletree Alumni House is a historic building on campus and the focal point for alumni when they return to the University. Currently, there is not an adequate-sized meeting room for alumni group gatherings, and the office space is not suitable for the Alumni Association staff to operate efficiently.”

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