Date: 4/3/26 12:29 pm From: Barry Haas <bhaas...> Subject: Remembrances of Don Simons
I first met Don Simons in the mid-1980's. At that time the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas (ASCA) held volunteer work sessions to construct bluebird houses made out of wood from donated fruit crates. The bluebird houses were sold to raise funds for ASCA. The work sessions were at Pinnacle Mountain State Park interpreter Neil Curry's park lodgings just west of Little Rock.
One evening Neil had an evening campfire going behind his residence when suddenly from out of the totally dark woods who should appear but a 19th century Arkansan in era appropriate garb. That was Don. What a character. I think Don would have chosen an earlier time to have been alive had he a choice.
Fast forward a few years to the fall of 1990 when I attended my first Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS) meeting at Lake Chicot State Park. Don was the interpreter there, and did a good job shuttling us by boat on Lake Chicot to see one or more active rookeries with a nice variety of avian species wood storks, herons, etc.
In the years since Don has at times played his mountain man role during AAS Halberg Ecology Camp youth sessions at Camp Clearfork. He was always willing to help others both young and old understand what life was like long ago.
His final move years ago was to serve as interpreter at Mount Magazine State Park. Don was always willing to help others whether it involved birds or other wildlife.
