Dr. Simkins: The Man Who Teed Off Change

August 23rd of 1924 is the day that Greensboro, the cradle of civil rights in North Carolina, opened itself up for change. It was the day George C. Simkins Sr, a dentist, and Guyrene Tyson Simkins, an educator, gave birth to a rising star. Not only would George Simkins Jr. grow up to be a natural athlete and nationally ranked badminton player, he would grow up to spark change!

George become the first African American to serve as a part of the Guilford County Health Department. A decided game of golf with five friends, at the Gillespie Golf Park, a segregated golf course on what is now known as Martin Luther King Jr. Drive lead, to a future life of activism. George Simkins and friends were refused service but walked in to play anyway. An action which lead to their arrest for simply playing golf.

This case which became known as Simkins et al v. Greensboro carried over into what became a landmark case for the city of Greensboro. The Federal Fourth circuit ruled in favor of the Simpkins and friends despite the states attempts to bypass. It ruled out race as an exclusionary means of entry. A feat that the city of Greensboro didn’t like, choosing instead to sell their golf courses rather than integrate.

This was just the start of what became a long journey for Dr. Simkins. He would go on to fight other battles, his most well-known case being the desegregation of hospitals in the 1960’s, as well as head the local Greensboro NAACP chapter.

George would go on to have an elementary school named in his honor and a statue erected in front of the Guilford County courthouse to mark the legal battles he fought for the community. And to show respect to him as the man who teed off change in city!