Welcome to the Michigammes
School-age women compete today as a matter of course. Intellectually, of course, we can tell you it’s a consequence of Title IX, but that’s just the dry stuff of history for most of us. Sports for girls is just part of the landscape.
That wasn’t always true, however, and it certainly was not when Ken Simmons and first wife Betty traveled to Rome for the 1960 Olympic Games. A track standout in his own right (Simmons may have the world record for the number of times finishing second to the great Jesse Owens), the retired policeman was a big fan of the sport - and in fact, was still in shape for competition.
Rome was a blast, and the competition magnetic - but a part of Simmons still experienced disappointment. The reason, to use a modern phrase, was the “lack of gender equity”. While luminaries like Herb Elliott, Murray Halberg, and Peter Snell dominated the men’s distance events, the longest race for women was the 800. Anything more would be just too dangerous for “delicate constitutions”. Moreover, aside from Wilma Rudolph’s sweep of the sprints, the American distaff set was - in a word - lousy. More...
Michiigammes Reunion April 16 & 17
Mr. Simmons turned 100 on January 5th. To celebrate this great event we are having a reunion on April 16 & 17 in Ann Arbor. More info ...